Damn spineless politicians we have in Europe. Hope the dollar/euro exchange rate stays where it is for six months more, but somehow that would surprise me with the EU sending these signals.


BBC Source

quote:

EU ministers finalise euro deal Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker has brokered a compromise European finance ministers agreed late on Sunday to ease the Growth and Stability Pact rules which eurozone members must abide by. The new rules will make it easier for eurozone countries to keep their deficits within 3% of national income. European ministers now have more flexibility over the costs they can exclude when adding up their deficits. Under the deal, Germany can exclude its reunification costs and France will leave out military and aid spending. Easier rules This is not a licence to run up debt. Hans Eichel, German finance minister Hans Eichel The deal is set to be endorsed by EU leaders this week. "We're going to submit this text on which we reached complete agreement to heads of state and government at their summit on Tuesday and Wednesday," said Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister, who chaired the meeting to discuss the stability pact. "I spoke to enough of them during the meeting to know there will be no long debate and no fierce controversy," Reuters reported him as saying on Sunday night. The new rules should make it easier for eurozone countries to meet the Growth and Stability criteria without having to cut government spending. There will also be greater leniency for new EU members such as Poland and Hungary. If these countries introduce pension reforms that increase their budget deficits, they will get a five-year grace period. This will make it easier for them to adopt the euro. Three-year breach Euro coins The euro has stayed strong despite limited adherence to budget rules For the past three years, France and Germany have breached the rule that says government budget deficits should not be more than 3% of gross domestic product, a measure of economic growth. Greece has also breached the limit while Italy's method of reporting on its deficit has been questioned by the European Union. Many countries argued that the Growth and Stability Pact rules were put in place when economic growth was stronger. They say greater flexibility is now needed to increase spending in more difficult economic times. Growth in the eurozone is expected to be less than 2% this year. Debt fears The BBC's Manuela Saragosa in Brussels says the new rules may alarm some critics who worry that reforms could lead to sloppy government finances, resulting in higher interest rates. "This is not a licence to run up debt," German Minister of Finance Hans Eichel told reporters. However, earlier in the evening, the Austrian finance minister said it would be "a bit of a joke" to exempt reunification costs for an event - the fall of the Berlin wall - that happened 15 years ago.

It is widely known or expected that The European Central Bank wants to raise interest rates this year,around a 1/2% is expected or should i say was expected until the price of oil hit new levels last week,so the 1/2% increase is probably now on hold if oil prices continue to rise as they are expected to (Brent crude today is at $55.70 and May crude futures are $57.60)
Now at the same time Jean Claude Trichet President of the European Central Bank is warning European Finance Ministers that any weakening or undermining of the growth and stability pact will undermine the Euro and implied today that he would raise interests rates to compensate for any such moves.
So basically the market is saying one thing and the European Central Bank another as higher oil prices will undermine growth in Europe and this is why analyts expected an interest rate rise to be put on hold.

The Euro has begun to fall allready on last nights news from European Finance Ministers and now stands at 1.32euro per Dollar down from 1.34 a few days ago...but with all the mixed signals who knows(but whats new from the European Central Bank)a weaker Euro probably wouldnt do any harm for growth prospects in Europe anyway and will be welcomed by industry.....but not if you are a european living in the states buying cheap Dollars with your Euros.........

That sucks. I could see it comming tho. But I really hate how some of the smaller countries dont have the guts to stand up against the big countries. I guess the stability pact needed reform but i dont think this is the way to go.