Finland holds key to eurozone ‘grand bargain’

When European Union leaders gather in Brussels, on 24 and 25 March 2011, to finalize a much-anticipated “grand bargain” to solve their debt crisis, the eyes of the financial markets will be focused on an unlikely place: Finland.

After months of negotiations, the Finnish government, normally one of the most pro-European Union members in the bloc, is set to hold up one of the central elements of the package, in part because it has been blindsided at home by the rise of a populist anti-euro party that is threatening to cause havoc in next month’s national elections.

Deutsche Welle, 22.3.11: Europe agrees on how to cobble together 700-billion euro safety net http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14933845,00.html

EurActiv, 30.3.11: Finland will not obstruct bailouts: EU official http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro-finance/finland-obstruct-bailouts-eu-official-news-503611

ESO: Background information: Nine EU countries set out post-crisis growth plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/nine-eu-countries-set-out-post-crisis-growth-plan/

ESO: Background information: Eurozone strikes debt deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-strikes-debt-deal/

EUObserver, 22.3.11: Denmark embraces euro-pact http://euobserver.com/9/32035

EurActiv, 22.3.11: EU agrees €700 billion fund to protect euro zone http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-agrees-700-fund-protect-euro-news-503335

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