Summary: Key event in Europe is not on many calendars–it is a ruling by the European Court of Justice. UK government and Tory Party stabilizing, leaving the Labour Party in disarray. US economy appears to have accelerated into the end of Q2. BOJ’s meeting at the end of the month. Four large dramas being played out among the major high income countries. The drama in the eurozone moves center stage in the...
Read More »The EU and Turkey: Unvarnished Truth and Stuffing
Summary Turkey and the EU will begin negotiations over financial and budget reform. It is one of 35 areas (chapters) of negotiations. Turkey is no where close to joining the EU, for which it initially applied in 1987. In the vitriolic debate over the UK’s membership of the EU, Turkey’s potential membership became one of the talking points. Prime Minister Cameron, who has advocated Turkey’s eventual membership,...
Read More »Political Crisis in Turkey is Not Good for Europe
It has been long recognized by the investment community that power in Turkey was concentrated in Erdogan’s hands. He enjoys incredible power in the ceremonial presidential post and brooks no rivals. Common among authoritarian leaders they habitually turn on hand-picked successors as they grow fearful of competitors. This is precisely what has played out in Turkey in recent days and now has come to a head. Prime Minister Davutoglu returned from a trip to Europe and the Middle East to...
Read More »Here Comes The Turkish Flood: EU Commission Backs Visa-Free Travel For 80 Million Turks
Earlier this week we observed that in what may be Europe’s latest mistake, the European Union is about to grant visa-gree travel to 80 million Turks: a key concession that Erdogan obtained as a result of the ongoing negotiations over Europe’s refugee crisis which has pushed Turkey into the key player spotlight. And then, overnight, the European Commission officially granted its support to a visa-free travel deal with Turkey after Ankara threatened to back out of a landmark migration deal....
Read More »Two Decisions from Europe
It might not be on investors’ calendars, but European officials will take steps toward addressing two issues tomorrow. First, the EC will make a preliminary recommendation of visa-free travel in the Schengen area for Turkish passport holders. Second, the ECB governing council will hold a non-monetary policy meeting. It is expected to discuss the future of the 500-euro note. In exchange for implementing previously agreed upon measures to address the refugees going from Turkey to...
Read More »Switzerland Readies Military In Preparation For A New Wave Of Migrants
According to The BBC, the most asylum claims in 2015 occurred in Germany, which saw >500,000... With the main route (reportedly shut down) being from Turkey to Greece, and up through the Balkans... With Syrians making up the bulk of migrants trying to enter Europe. But now, in response to Balkan countries closing down traditional migrant routes to Europe, Switzerland's military is taking steps to prepare for a potential new wave of immigrants in case it becomes part of a new route....
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