Barroso: EU would be ridiculed if US ‘shutdown’ occurred here

Commission President José Manuel Barroso said that while the EU was "ridiculed" for its handling of the eurozone crisis he would not criticise the United States for its budget deadlock, as this was a "normal" result of democracy.

The United States government fell into a partial shutdown at midnight on 1 October after Republican and Democrat leaders failed to strike a deal over the budget.

EUObserver, 02.10.13: US embassy to EU in phase one of 'shutdown' http://euobserver.com/foreign/121639

EurActiv, 01.10.13: US shutdown could affect five EU states' visa services http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/us-shutdown-affect-visa-services-news-530792

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