Carnegie Moscow Center
Poland, a non-eurozone member holding the rotating EU presidency for the first time, faces difficulty pushing ahead its agenda because of the eurozone crisis. The crisis also risks diminishing the successes the Polish presidency has achieved thus far.
An economic crisis comparable in size and virulence to the Lehman Brothers episode could erupt if Italy and Spain lose their ability to borrow. The G20 must act now to stabilize the eurozone.
Poland’s relatively successful foreign policy contributed to the popularity of the ruling Civic Platform party and helped it win the country’s parliamentary elections. Given these election results, the Polish foreign policy is not likely to change.
NATO is facing a number of serious challenges from the current fiscal and security environment and the successful realization of the alliance’s security responsibilities requires dependable partners that more equitably share the ensuing burden.
Europe must think and act in a unified strategic manner if it wants to save its struggling currency and strengthen its military and government capabilities.
Today, the big economic risks come not from the United States, but from European countries struggling to figure out a long term solution to sovereign debt and the weak institutional underpinnings of the euro.
Financial market turmoil and U.S. debt woes threaten to undermine the global recovery, but the biggest danger to the world economy comes from Europe and its worsening debt crisis.
Russia’s recovery from the global economic crisis has been slow, constrained by a number of economic and political structural problems. Until they are resolved, these issues will continue to hinder Russia’s development.
Too often, debate on the relationship between Europe and Russia is driven by events—including elections, changes in leadership, and summits—which may provide important policy openings but do not always allow for thoughtful consideration of the long-term factors that shape the relationship.
The leadership of the International Monetary Fund should be open to any qualified candidate from anywhere in the world and the selection process should be inclusive, transparent, and based on no other considerations than the candidate’s professional merits, experience, and integrity.