Europe’s Debt Crisis: ECB Hints at Help Pending Euro-Zone Integration – SPIEGEL ONLINE

[ ECB chief Mario Draghi] seemed to hint at a possible way out of the downward spiral, saying that the ECB could be prepared to take additional steps to halt the crisis. First, however, Europe needed to move quickly toward greater economic integration.

“Other elements might follow,” he said, in reference to the coordinated central banks’ action taken on Wednesday. “But the sequencing matters.” He added that “a new fiscal compact would be the most important signal from euro-area governments for embarking on a path of comprehensive deepening of economic integration.”

via Europe’s Debt Crisis: ECB Hints at Help Pending Euro-Zone Integration – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International.

ECB Expected to Unleash QE Money Printing after Launching of Euro-Bonds :: The Market Oracle

In return for surrendering fiscal policy to Brussels, – Berlin and Paris, the key paymasters of the Euro-zone, would agree to the creation of a common Eurobond that would pool the credit ratings and collateral of all participating Euro-zone countries into a single fixed income instrument. Chancellor Merkel says that German borrowing costs will jump higher because of the creation of a Eurobond, though she is prepared to consider Eurobonds, if the legal framework is in place to ensure all countries in the zone observe the rules.

…..Once fiscal integration is agreed upon, Berlin is expected to agree to the creation of Eurobonds issued by member states that could be purchased in massive quantities (monetized) by the ECB. Countries would be liable for each others’ debts, but the ECB could make much of their debt disappear with its electronic printing press. Eurobonds would either be financed with higher taxes on the working class, through austerity measures, or through the inflationary effects of the ECB’s money printing machine. With French banks alone holding more of their debts than the entire €440-billion European Financial Stabilization Fund, a default by these countries would likely bankrupt the French financial system. Thus, Paris has been pushing hard for the ECB to monetize debt on a massive scale.

via ECB Expected to Unleash QE Money Printing after Launching of Euro-Bonds :: The Market Oracle :: Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting Free Website.

The German Hour – Jean Pisani-Ferry – Project Syndicate

Germany should be bold and use its leverage to offer a new contract to its eurozone partners: mutual guarantee of part of their public debt in exchange for strict debt limits and a new legal order in which a eurozone authority can veto an enacted budget even before it is implemented. Only such boldness will deliver the certainty that markets need – and it is Germany’s responsibility to be bold.

via The German Hour – Jean Pisani-Ferry – Project Syndicate.

OECD Sounds Warning on Global Economy

The OECD now forecasts the eurozone economy to be in a six-month recession lasting through the first quarter of 2012, followed by a slow recovery that will leave the 17-nation bloc with only 0.2 percent growth next year. Despite the OECD’s warning, European markets enjoyed one of their best sessions in weeks amid hopes that radical plans were being readied for the Dec. 9 meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. The Stoxx 50 of leading European shares ended 3.6 percent higher at 2,208.89.

via OECD Sounds Warning on Global Economy.

Euro Zone Weighs Plan to Speed Fiscal Integration – WSJ.com

BERLIN—Euro-zone countries are weighing a new plan to accelerate the integration of their fiscal policies, people familiar with the matter said, as Europe’s leaders race to convince investors they can resolve the region’s debt crisis and keep the currency area from fracturing.

Under the proposed plan, national governments would seal bilateral agreements that wouldn’t take as long as a cumbersome change to European Union treaties, according to people familiar with the matter. …. The EU treaty allows countries to engage in “enhanced cooperation” if at least nine countries agree, circumventing the need for a unanimous treaty change among all 27 EU members.

via Euro Zone Weighs Plan to Speed Fiscal Integration – WSJ.com.

Fiscal union is the only real solution | Credit Writedowns

A fiscal union led by Germany would in effect force debtor nations who want more German and ECB support to surrender more of their fiscal sovereignty, in a binding way, to EU Commissioners, who would have greater authority in shaping national budgets and fiscal policies.

Rather than ECB bond buying or a common bond issuance being a solution to the problems, those activities are only possible once the solution is in place. Needless to say monetary union was a significant surrender of monetary sovereignty. However, by retaining fiscal sovereignty, countries found an escape hatch. A move to fiscal union is to close this loophole.

via Fiscal union is the only real solution | Credit Writedowns.

Euro Pressures Mount–Necessary for Eventual Resolution | Credit Writedowns

Germany is using this crisis to tighten its hegemony in Europe. It needs to close the fiscal loopholes. Many have recognized that this was a necessary birth defect in EMU–monetary union without fiscal union. A fiscal union–where countries, especially those that struggle to adhere to the Stability and Growth rule, have to cede a greater degree of fiscal autonomy. This will take the form not of German officials, but EU Commissioners having greater say in the fiscal policies of the debtors.

via Euro Pressures Mount–Necessary for Eventual Resolution | Credit Writedowns.