EU faces breaking point: Brussels faces struggle as Spain and Italy add to crises


[We know that somehow the Revived Roman Empire, aka the EU, just transform into the "10 Kings" stage...How this happens is anyone's guess: will it transform into a 10-country member-state? Will 10 countries break off and form a different union? Will expansion take place? Either way, any big changes to the EU would presumably stem from some kind of crisis which would lead to such changes - so any "crisis" we see in the EU is worth watching closely]






THE European Union is facing a breaking point, according to a leading reporter from the AP, who listed off a series of crises that could trigger the disintegration of the member-state bloc.

Europe faces an overwhelming number of struggles that could wipe out solidarity inside the bloc, according to Greg Katz, a reporter for the AP.
Speaking on BBC Dateline, the foreign correspondent reeled off a series of crises that threaten the future of the EU.
He noted problems in Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, US trade tariffs as well as Brexit as potential breaking points for keeping the European Union together.
Katz had been discussing the political uncertainties in Spain and Italy, the third and fourth-largest economies in the eurozone.
He added: "We have been saying this for 24 months, but we are running out of ways to say EU is in trouble.
"Europe still exists but there is no unifying concept that I can see.
"When I got here twenty years ago, Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl were these giant figures with a vision of European unity. 
"Now it’s in such disarray that it doesn’t even matter where you look. We haven’t mentioned the lack of democratic progress and ideals in Poland and Hungary.

"The whole thing seems to be unravelling."
Concerns surrounding the future of the European Union first escalated when Britain voted to leave the bloc, a process that is still ongoing nearly two years on.
However, since then a rise in eurosceptic leadership has defied the European Union's rule.
On Friday, Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella swore in an anti-establishment government that looks set to take on the EU over the single currency and budget rules. 

Mariano Rajoy was ousted as Spanish Prime Minister this week, with the country considered to be the next site of political instability following Greece and Italy, given the country's high state debt.
Earlier this week, the billionaire investor George Soros said the European Union is in the midst of an "existential crisis" and may cease to exist. 
He said: "There is no longer any point in ignoring the reality that a number of European Union member countries have explicitly rejected the EU’s goal of 'ever closer union'."
Gianni Riotta from the Council on Foreign Relations responded to a question this week on whether Italy had become Europe’s Achilles’ heel by joking: “How many heels can Europe sport? Greece, the United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary – too many, I’d say.”








Europe hit back at the US after President Donald Trump slapped tough tariffs on European steel and aluminium earlier this week.
The united front was delivered from European Union's trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom who warned President Trump of retaliation.
However, the unity shown in response to the tariffs could quickly change, according to a leading currency strategist. 
Jane Foley, a senior currency strategist at Rabobank, predicted that over time the tariffs will start to hurt and the rest of Europe will blame Germany.

Ms Foley told Bloomberg: "The trade tariffs have potential ramifications for world growth, not just for this year or next year, but the longer term.
"This could become Germany versus the rest of the EU.
"If you look at the US Treasury report published last month that pinpointed the currency manipulators, they pinpointed Germany and in particular its trade surpluses.
"They advised Germany to increase domestic demand to get rid of its trade surplus. Trump has an issue with all countries that run a trade surplus with the US.

"That is Germany, that is not France. The issue about tariffs being slapped on the EU creates a problem.
"Will the rest of Europe turn their attention to Germany and say look, Trump has a problem with you and we are suffering the consequences.

"It’ll be interesting to see if a wedge will be driven between EU economic partners."
The British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox called President Trump's decision "wrong and illegal". 

The EU has already issued a 10-page list of tariffs on US goods ranging from Harley-Davidson motorcycles to bourbon.
However, Dr Fox cautioned against measures that might spark a full-blown trade war.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today that the UK was still seeking tariff exemptions based both on specific products and also geographic location.
The cabinet secretary said: "We, of course, have the G7 leaders meeting at the end of the week where the Prime Minister will be raising this with President Trump alongside other leaders."
Canada and Mexico, who were also hit by the tariffs, are still planning their own retaliatory moves.