Is Alistair Darling isolated in Europe?
Today's announcement of a EUR750 billion bailout fund for euro zone members has been well received by markets around the world although it does appear to leave Alistair Darling somewhat isolated within Europe. Only this weekend he appeared to suggest the UK government as it is at the moment would be against a bailout fund and the additional financial stress this could cause some European Union members.
Today's announcement followed a very demanding weekend for European Union leaders which saw a number of vital subjects discussed in great detail. The time taken to announce this bailout fund has impressed many when you bear in mind it took weeks to confirm details of the Greek bailout situation. This in itself is a perfect reflection of the very difficult situation which the European Union finds itself in at the moment with speculators looking to find cracks within the union and target individual weakened economies.
This new one for all and all for one policy by the European Union would appear to have trumped many speculators in the short-term and caught them offguard. However, the proof is in the pudding and we have yet to see funding thrown into the pot from those who have been mentioned as potential "investors".
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