Misunderstanding the euro crisis

When France and Germany laid out a “pact for competitiveness” – visibly designed as a quid pro quo for German assent to more effective solutions to the eurozone debt crisis – they were seen as running roughshod over other nations and over the European Union’s spirit of community and solidarity. On Thursday came the response from the most ardent of European integrationists, in a Financial Times comment article by former Commission presidents Jacques Delors and Romano Prodi, and Belgian ex-prime minister Guy Verhofstadt. Both proposals champion the long-standing wishes of their authors. Neither remotely addresses Europe’s current challenges.

Eurozone to consider closer economic scrutiny

Eurozone countries could get a far greater say in each others' economic policies, according to draft documents seen by the BBC.

They would also have to make "concrete commitments" on economic targets, which would be reviewed every year.

These moves, and a closer co-ordination of fiscal measures, will be discussed later this month at a meeting of eurozone leaders, the papers suggest.

‘Oil prices, euro zone debt crisis downside risks to growth story’

A day after painting prospects of a 9 per cent GDP rate in 2011-12, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee outlined internal and external challenges such as soaring oil prices and high inflation that could pose a threat.

“The challenge before the government and the Reserve Bank of India has been to support the growth process without compromising on price stability,” Mukherjee said at the annual general meeting of industry chamber Ficci on Tuesday. “The task has not been easy, but we are making progress.”

George Soros: Euro debt crisis is spreading

Notable investor and businessman George Soros has commented in the World Economic Forum that the debt crisis in the euro zone is not going to end soon. He pointed out that Europe is currently divided into two economic blocks and the economically stronger countries comprising of Germany and France are ahead of the weaker nations like Romania by miles. This split can very well take its toll on Europe. He virtually echoed the opinion of Nouriel Roubini who recently said that the debt crisis, instead of being over, is going to spread to the other parts of the continent.

Forgotten the euro zone debt crisis?

Financial markets -- and oil in particular -- will doubtless be in thrall in the coming week to Libya and whatever the wave of Middle East and North Africa popular uprisings throws up next.

But the radical change in the Arab world is not the only question mark hanging over investors. Does anyone remember the euro zone debt crisis?