During long past negotiations to remove European tariffs on products, farmers and industrial workers wanted to retain protection. They were accused of only trying to defend their “privileged” position at the expense of consumers who were bound to benefit enormously from the creation of a single European market.
The latter brought costs and benefits. Many workers lost their jobs and never found other employment. But today, we are told, there is a consensus that benefits have outweighed costs.
Even so, the reference still is to a single market in the trade of products. We were fed very fine words regarding the development of a single market in services across Europe but progress has been slow. Not least in professional services, where all hell breaks loose when governments try to liberalise.
Across Europe, too many different regulations apply, regarding for instance the recognition of professional qualifications. They prevent holders from being able to move freely across frontiers.
Apparently in the establishment of a single European market, what had to make sense for farmers and industrial workers, should not apply equally to providers of professional services.
***
Bankrupt
As I write this at least, it seems that the bankruptcy of Greece is increasingly being considered as likely.
When that prospect re-emerged last week, financial markets went glum. The values of shares and other financial instruments got a beating. Constantly we’ve heard the refrain in recent years that the euro zone had set up strong protective structures to contain the crises arising in this or that country. So even if Greece goes bankrupt, it won’t be a disaster for the rest of the euro zone.
However in the real world, it is impossible to calculate beforehand all the repercussions of events that might occur. Yet one must acknowledge that considering how the euro zone has developed, impressive decisions were taken to ensure that it remains operative, no matter what happens.
The fear persists that if Greece or some other country hits a rock, the rest of the euro zone could be hit too hard.
***
Veloso & Gil
It was such a nice surprise to learn from a clip on the BBC’s world TV news that Gaetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are organizing a joint concert tour in Europe this summer.
I first got to know about them a long time ago from young Brazilian friends. They made me listen to Gil’s and Veloso’s music of those days.
Their style was typically Brazilian, popular and quite ready to mimic other traditions as well as “learn” new things from them. It was robust, sentimental, also political stuff. And so the military regime that ran Brazil during the second half of the sixties of the previous century outlawed Veloso and Gil, even if they did not pursue them with the same savagery that years later, in Chile, was the lot of Victor Jara.
Veloso and Gil managed to find refuge in London. That’s where they started to cooperate.
What a pity they’re not so well known in Malta.