All the bail-out systems under the sun cannot make the eurozone work

Last week's summit of EU leaders in Brussels brought the "right answers" to the problems facing the eurozone, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has told a German newspaper.In an interview to be published on Sunday in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Schaeuble said: "The Brussels summit brought the right answers to the problems facing" eurozone members.EU leaders had established "a clear plan for growth" in 2013, he said.

By Ralph Shell: You would think after 20 or so major and mini summits over the period since the Greek saga commenced, the European leaders would have enough experience to have successful productive summits. We are headed for another important gathering in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, and unlike the pre summit optimism at the early meetings, there is now apprehension this meeting will fail to provide an answer.

BERLIN/PARIS (Reu

Guest blog post by Michael C. Camuñez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance, International Trade Administration This past week, I traveled to Europe as part of my ongoing efforts to deepen the already-robust trans-Atlantic trade relationship. One of my stops was in Brussels, Belgium, the home of the European Commission and heart of the European Union. There, I sat down with EU leaders to discuss ways in which the U.S. and Europe can work together to foster greater economic opportunity and growth on both sides of the Atlantic. I was honored to join a lunch with the president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, and other EU leaders, where I offered them my perspective on the importance of the protection of intellectual property rights to our shared prosperity.I also participated in a panel discussion on intellectual property rights (IPR) and growth at the 10th Annual European Business Summit, an issue vital to fostering innovation. My participation in the Business Summit was timely. For the past several weeks, IPR policies have been hotly debated across the European Union. The question at the forefront of this debate is: how does one protect and enforce IPR, while at the same time creating an environment that will foster the continued growth of the digital economy?My remarks offered me an opportunity to talk about the perspective that I bring as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance. My role has given me some insight into the global competition to transform industrial, carbon-based economies into 21st-century knowledge-based economies–to attract and keep talent, to intensify the pace of innovation and commercialization of innovative products and services, and how to gain and keep our competitive edge.

Reader "JB" thinks I am blaming Germany for what is happening. That's not exactly correct, but let's take a look at what "JB" has to say via email. Hi Mish, I read your blog daily. We are generally on the same page. We even agree that in all probability the eurozone will break up. However, You cannot blame the Germany, the German government, or the German people for doing the right thing. Germans can accept austerity. The phrase "tightening the belt" is an axiom in the German language. .... JB

It’s a measure of the mishandling that this drop of an economy, just 1.1m people and 0.2pc of eurozone GDP, has been able to trigger such a tsunami, reports The Telegraph.

The once taboo subject of a Greek departure from the eurozone cracked in the past couple of weeks, primarily with threats to Greece. Today the exit discussion dam broke wide open as Eurozone tells members to make contingencies for "Grexit" Euro zone officials have told members of the currency area to prepare contingency plans in case Greece decides to quit the bloc, an eventuality which Germany's central bank said would be "manageable".

By Daniel Sckolnik: "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." -Ralph Waldo Emerson