Latest:
Hungary has clarified it’s position, and said it will consult it’s parliament, but has NOT rejected the treaty outright as the UK did.
According to it’s Ministry of Foreign Affair, Czech Republic is conferring with it’s parliament, and still intends to join the Euro.
Nothing new about Sweden.....still must confer with it’s parliament.
Hungary and Czech Republic will now be under intense pressure to sign-up, and given how dependent the Czech Republic is on Germany for trade and finance, I won’t be surprised if they knuckle under. All of the banks here are owned by the Austrians, Germans, Belgians, or Italians, so that will no doubt have some impact on the issue.
Heck, I can walk to my nearest chain supermarket, and it’s German-owned. Lidl, Kaufland, Globus, the big ones are German (except Tesco, out of the UK). The Belgians have a big stake as well with Delvita, and I believe Billa is Austrian. The only Czech-owned grocery stores left are Jednota, and the small regional supermarket, Hruska.
The Swedes? Hard to say what they’ll do.
According to the press conference just given by Frau Merkel, the next step is political union.
This agreement gives Germany unprecedented financial power in Europe. Germany has become the Master of Europe. Now it has the power to whip the other nations into line with it’s economic policies, or suffer the consequences. Sarkozy has hitched his star to Germany’s, and a good chunk of the EU just did as well.
Well, I guess there’s more than one way to conquer the world, as they say. Mrs. Merkel is one hell of a poker player, I’ll say that for her.
I don’t know much about Hungary, but the Czech Republic just elected a right wing nationalist government last year. I don’t see their parlaiment going for this.
The Swedes have their own currency. They would be stupid to sign up, but they may well be stupid.