About this blog
Welcome to my blog - I'm Charles Reed and I advise the Church of England on foreign policy issues.
This blog covers a variety of topics from US foreign policy to European politics and the Middle East - and whatever else happens to be in the news or catch my attention.
This is a conversational blog so please join in as your comments are an essential part of making the whole thing work.
My Books
Tag Archives: Euro zone
Europe and its crisis of legitimacy
The reaction across European capitals to the Greek elections appears to be one of sober relief. With Greek so deeply divided and with Europe still short of a road map to solve the Eurozone’s structural problems this is not a … Continue reading
Posted in Europe
Tagged Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England, Democracy, Euro, Euro zone, Europe, European Commission, Greece, Legitimacy
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Debating Europe’s Future
Listen closely to the recent political statements of certain European politicians, not least Chancellor Merkel, and you will realise that the terms of the Euro zone debate have changed significantly in recent weeks. If you are interested in delving beyond … Continue reading
Posted in Europe
Tagged Angela Merkel, David Cameron, EU, Euro zone, Europe, The European Union Bill
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Europe and the Primacy of Domestic Politics
Faced with the growing fragmentation of Europe and the prospect of failed and failing states within its borders, Europe’s politicians appear incapable of providing the necessary political leadership to navigate the EU through its current economic ills. Mainstream political commentators might lament … Continue reading
Reflecting on 2011 – A Year of Contagion
It’s nearly the end of the year, and traditionally the time when we look back and try to make sense of the past 12 months. My suggestion for the word of the year is ‘contagion’. Contagion in the sense that … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2011, Arab Spring, Climate Change, Conference of European Churches, Contagion, Euro Crisis, Euro zone, Europe, Time, Tsunami, Vietnam
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Why Germany needs to sin to be virtuous
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, has written a fascinating piece in today’s Financial Times explaining why “the Eurozone needs deeper integration through tighter economic governance and tougher rules for the stability pact.” Underlying Westerwell’s argument is the assumption that … Continue reading
Posted in Europe
Tagged Bishop of Bath and Wells, Centre for European Reform, Euro Crisis, Euro zone, Europe, Financial Times, Guido Westerwelle
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Financial Stability and Economic Growth in the EU
With the leaders of the G20 meeting in Cannes, France, against a backdrop of continued confusion and uncertainty in the Eurozone, the House of Lords will today debate the matter of financial stability and economic growth in the EU. The Bishop of Bath … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Uncategorized
Tagged EU, EU 2020, Euro, Euro zone, Europe, European Commission, Financial Stability, G20, Lisbon Strategy, Single Market
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Photo Essay: Unorthodox Priestly Transport
This week’s photo essay captures a Greek Orthodox priest patrolling on his buggy the front line between police and rioters in central Athens on 29 June prior to the Greek Parliament’s decision to vote through a furher austerity package in order to … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Photo Essay
Tagged David Rothkopf, Debt, EU, Euro zone, Europe, Foreign Policy, Greece
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Europe’s crisis – An Animated view from Taiwan
Seeing one’s own problems through the eyes of others can sometimes be instructive and at times sobering. It can also be amusing. I found the following animated ‘You-Tube video’ from a Taiwanese film company particularly helpful when trying to make sense … Continue reading
