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news
worldnews
europe
ireland
8138586
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# EU locked in survival crisis over debt
## The European Union is locked in a "survival crisis" as Ireland resisted
calls to take an international bailout.
![The European Union is locked in a 'survival crisis' as Ireland resisted
calls to take an international bailout. ][1]
The Irish Prime Minister said yesterday that the country was confident that it
could cope with its financial problems and criticised 'inaccurate' speculation
about its problems Photo: AFP
By Bruno Waterfield and Robert Winnett 7:28PM GMT 16 Nov 2010
The President of Europe warned that countries needed to "work together" ahead
of crucial talks designed to secure the future of the euro.
Stock markets around the world fell sharply amid growing international unease
over the growing crisis threatening the single currency.
The deepening debt crisis in Ireland which has spread to other parts of the
eurozone has left the single currency and European Union fighting for their
"survival", Herman Van Rompuy warned.
"We are in a survival crisis," he told an audience of Brussels policymakers
yesterday. "We all have to work together in order to survive with the euro
zone because if we don't survive with the euro zone, we will not survive with
the EU."
The comments helped spark a fall in share prices and the value of the euro
across the world.
## Related Articles
* [The euro politicians who will decide Ireland's fate][2]
17 Nov 2010
* [Ireland resists bail-out as UK pledges 7 billion][3]
17 Nov 2010
* [UK pledges 7bn to help bail Ireland out of debt crisis][4]
17 Nov 2010
* [Euro crisis: Britain needs to prepare for an economic dark age next
door][5]
16 Nov 2010
* [Eurozone debt crisis: Ireland says 'don't panic'][6]
16 Nov 2010
* [Irish 'contagion' hits Portugal][7]
15 Nov 2010
London's FTSE 100 index of Britain's biggest companies fell by 2.38 percent
to 5,681. Bank shares including Lloyds TSB were some of the biggest fallers.
In Paris, the CAC 40 lost 2.63 percent to 3,762, and in Frankfurt the DAX
reduced by 1.87 percent. The Dow Jones fell by more than 200 points to below
11,000 points.
The Irish Prime Minister said yesterday that the country was confident that it
could cope with its financial problems and criticised "inaccurate" speculation
about its problems. However, he indicated that the country may seek
international help for its banks to "reassure" the markets.
In a statement to the Irish Parliament, Brian Cowen said: "The strategy being
pursued by Government has addressed the difficulties facing the banking
system, is bringing sustainability to the public finances and is resulting in
ongoing improvements in competitiveness. Pursuing these policies is essential
for a return to growth, the evidence of which we are already beginning to see.
"The turbulence in the markets over recent weeks has been about issues of
wider concern than Ireland's situation. It is appropriate therefore that we
discuss with our partners, as we are, how these issues should best be
addressed."
However he also added: "We are engaged with our counterparts in relation to
discussing with them how best be underpin banking and financial stabilities,"
Last night, finance ministers from the eurozone were meeting to discuss plans
to stabilise markets across the continent and the Irish were expected to come
under growing pressure to agree to an international bailout.
George Osborne, the Chancellor, is due to arrive in Brussels today to join the
talks.
"We are discussing with both the European Central Bank and the IMF and of
course the Irish," Olli Rehn, the EU's Economic and Monetary Affairs
Commissioner said. "The real problems are in the banking sector, not with the
government, but these are connected."
The Irish government has insisted that it can afford to repay its record
debts, despite having an annual deficit equivalent to almost a third of the
size of its economy.
The growing market turmoil surrounding Ireland has also threatened to push
Spain and Portugal into crisis. The cost of Spanish government borrowing rose
sharply yesterday.
Carlos Ocana, a Spanish Treasury minister, urged Ireland to stop the contagion
spreading by acting quickly.
"The important thing is that Ireland makes a decision as soon as possible," he
said.
But many EU countries will insist that any loans from EU emergency funds to
Ireland will only be granted if Dublin signs up to an austerity programme on
conditions set and enforced by the European Commission and the IMF.
"You can't just throw money from helicopters. You have to create confidence in
institutions, in the state, in public authorities," said Rainer Bruederle, the
German Economy Minister.
A full EU-IMF bailout would mean Ireland losing key areas of political and
economic sovereignty. This would be deeply controversial and could cost the
Irish government its majority. Senior German political figures yesterday
suggested that Ireland should increase its corporate tax rates.
British taxpayers could be left with a liability of more than £7 billion from
an Irish bailout. However, the Treasury has yet to be formally approached to
agree to any deal.
"There have been no formal requests and we are not at the stage where we would
be consulted," said a British government source.
The Chancellor said the concerns and speculation surrounding the financial
health of Ireland and Portugal showed economies are not free from the risk of
collapse - though he insisted Britain is "out of the financial danger zone".
The Chancellor said he did not want to add to speculation around Ireland's
position but added that the country is taking "difficult steps" to address its
fiscal situation.
Mr Osborne told MPs: "I would make a general observation that what is going on
at the moment highlights the fact that concerns about sovereign debt issues
have not disappeared, and we should be grateful that thanks to the actions of
this Government we have moved Britain out of the financial danger zone."
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Telegraph
## [Ireland][13]
* ### [News »][14]
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* ### [Finance »][16]
* ### [Bruno Waterfield »][17]
In news
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