Correction. The EU *will* break. That's been my message since at least 2009... and probably a lot earlier since I *always* thought the EU was a stupid, unsound plan.
But the Subject Line today comes from a bit better known - if not better respected or more accurate) source.
14 September 2011 - 17H11
Eurozone crisis could rip EU apart: officials
www.france24.com
AFP - The eurozone crisis could wreck the European Union, top EU officials warned on Wednesday as the leaders of Germany and France held talks with Greece to avoid a default and widespread chaos.
The pressure rose on all fronts with United States again expressing great concern, with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner saying European states "now recognise they are going to have to do more" to resolve to the crisis.
Highlighting the threat to the global economy, Geithner is to exceptionally attend talks between European Union finance ministers and central bankers in Poland on Friday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou were to hold a teleconference late Wednesday as markets price in a default by the government in Athens, and credit rating giant Moody's downgraded two major French banks given their exposure to Greek debt.
"Europe is in danger," Polish Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski, whose country currently chairs EU meetings, told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
"If the eurozone breaks up, the European Union will not be able to survive," he added.
At his most dramatic, Rostowski even warned that "war" could return to Europe if the crisis fatally weakens the EU, founded amid the rubble of World War II.
His underlying message was backed up by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, who described the crisis as "the most serious challenge of a generation."
Barroso stressed: "This is a fight... for the economic and political future of Europe."
EU economic affairs commissioner Olli Rehn warned that "a default or exit of Greece from the eurozone would carry dramatic social, economic and political costs.
"Not only for Greece, but also for euro area member states, other EU states, as well as global partners."
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Problems also remain to be resolved over support for wider bailout funding in Finland, Slovakia and the Netherlands at least.
But with the pressure on markets intensifying, Europe's major economies will not let the region's biggest financial institutions "be at risk," Geithner said.
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The stakes are rising: after US President Barack Obama called for greater European efforts, the BRICS grouping -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- said they would discuss possible aid to Europe over Greece next week.
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Moody's downgraded Credit Agricole and Societe Generale, and left BNP Paribas on tenterhooks.
Shares in all three French banks had recently plummeted over concern at exposure to Greek debt.
Full story: http://www.france24.com/en/20110914-eurozone-crisis-could-rip-eu-apart-officials-0
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
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