In 2007, the BBC ran a story with the headline “Ireland: An EU Success Story.” But the point wasn’t simply that Ireland had done well. It was that Ireland had done well that their continued interest in the European Union served as a critical endorsement of the continent’s generational project. And that wasn’t just the judgment of the Europeans. Ireland was touted here, too. Their low-tax, pro-business economic policies were considered a rare triumph for free market ideals in Europe. In October 2008, Sen. John McCain told conservative TV host Sean Hannity, “You’re going to go on my first overseas trip. And I think it might be to Ireland.” Read full article > >

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Europe is not a morality play

BERLIN — For decades, Germany’s role in Europe has been to supply the cash, not the leadership. With fresh memories of war, the continent was cautious about German domination — and so were the Germans themselves. But the economic crisis has shaken Europe’s postwar model, and Germany increasingly calls the shots. As countries struggle to pay their debts, only Chancellor Angela Merkel has enough money to haul them out of trouble. And the price Merkel is demanding — more control over how they run their economies — is setting off alarm bells in capitals across the continent. Read full article > >

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In Europe, new fears of German might

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakian lawmakers on Thursday approved expanding the size and powers of the EU bailout fund, overcoming an earlier rejection and removing the last hurdle to the fund’s use as the continent’s main weapon against the debt crisis. Slovakia is the last of the 17 eurozone nations to approve boosting the bailout €440 billion ($600 billion) fund, called the European Financial Stability Facility. The fund will be able to lend quickly to governments before they are in a full-blown crisis and help them boost banks’ health. Read full article > >

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Slovakian parliament approves expanding euro bailout fund, clearing way for its use in crisis

MADRID — Top European officials defended the health of the continent’s financial system Monday, trying to stem concerns that Europe’s slowing economy and high levels of government debt may cause some of its banks to fail. In separate statements European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said banks within the 17-nation euro currency zone have been steadily raising the amount of capital set aside as a cushion against losses and will not face the sort of cash crunch that helped trigger the recession in 2008. Read full article > >

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Europe officials defend banking systems

Top European farming officials are meeting Tuesday as the continent struggles to deal with an E. coli bacteria outbreak that has killed at least 22 people.

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Official: E. coli outbreak only in Germany

Pope Benedict XVI made a rare statement about his life in Nazi Germany Saturday while speaking before a German Catholic group in Regensburg that he belong to as a boy. “It looked like the continent was in the hands of [Hitler's] power, which put the…

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Pope Speaks About Life Under Nazis

Is anti-Muslim prejudice an issue across the continent?

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European viewpoint

Wintery weather continues to blast Europe, stalling train services across the continent and extending the nightmare for air passengers camped at key airports.

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No relief from snow in Europe

Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa says despite some advances in five years, the continent still needs billions in more aid.

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Africa ‘needs billions more aid’