Eurozone

Budget Battles

  • France Raises Taxes to Combat Deficit

    By Howard Schneider, The Washington Post

    The government of France acknowledged Wednesday that the country’s economy is slowing and announced $16 billion in new taxes to ensure it reaches its deficit-reduction targets.

  • German President Challenges Central Bank Bond Buying

    By GEIR MOULSON

    Germany's president said Wednesday that he has legal concerns about the European Central Bank's drive to buy the bonds of financially weak governments, a key tool in the region's efforts to ease...

  • Europe's a Mess, So Why Is the Euro So Strong?

    By Sarah Stodola, The Fiscal Times

    Against the euro, a dollar doesn’t go very far. It seems odd, given Europe’s fiscal woes, which now rival if not surpass those of the United States. How is the euro doing it?

  • Spain Considering Constitutional Debt Limit

    By DANIEL WOOLLS

    Spain's prime minister and the opposition leader agreed Tuesday to work on amending the Constitution to limit the government deficit, an effort to allay fears the country may need help handling its...

  • European Central Bank Buys $20.6B in Bonds

    By DAVID McHUGH

    The European Central Bank spent €14.3 billion ($20.6 billion) last week buying government bonds to protect large economies like Spain and Italy from the debt crisis, but market concerns persisted...