Of separatists and integration.

Interesting two part article.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/debt-crisis-gives-european-separatists-a-boost-a-860112.html

Chuckled at this:

Both the separatist Basques and the Catalans see their future as being within the European Union, with its common currency. Ironically, however, it was European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso who dashed those hopes, by pointing out that a newly created nation could not automatically become a member of the EU. Instead, new negotiations would be needed, and acceptance would require a unanimous vote by all EU member states.

The same applies to Scotland. In the 18th century, Edinburgh, a center of the Enlightenment in Europe, was proud of its unofficial title as the "Athens of the North." Today, many fear that this title could soon apply once again, albeit for different reasons.

On  the integration front, two articles of note:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eleven-eu-finance-ministers-agree-to-support-financial-transaction-tax-a-860320.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/eu-attempts-to-get-tougher-on-rule-enforcement-at-risk-of-failing-a-860038.html

Plus:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9597083/Draft-EU-proposals-on-closer-integration-in-full.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/concerns-over-stability-imf-demands-swift-banking-union-in-europe-a-860510.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9604889/Europe-considers-eurozone-budget-pooling-borrowing.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9606061/EC-boss-risks-Berlin-row-over-eurobonds.html

http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1628286-eu-basks-peace-prize-separatists-rise.html#.1272-stage-hero1-2


Update 16th. October

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/schaeuble-presents-euro-reforms-and-broad-new-powers-for-eu-a-861529.html