AALEP reproduces here after the geopolitical analysis of STRATFOR Global Intelligence for Europe in 2012. STRATFOR uses a unique, intelligence-based approach to gathering information via rigorous open-source monitoring and a global network of human sources. Analysts then evaluate events looking through the objective lens of geopolitics. Their  goal is simple: to make the complexity of the world understandable without ideology, agenda or national bias. 

The economic crisis has led Romanian authorities to take some of the toughest austerity measures in Central and Eastern Europe. The measures adopted last year included a 25 percent cut in public salaries, 15 percent cuts in social assistance, including disability benefits and children’s allowances, and cuts in subsidies for medical treatments – hitting especially people with chronic diseases, such as AIDS, and mental conditions. A third of Romanians say they cannot afford even the basic necessities.

There is no official lobbying law in Russia. Lobbying does not specify, does not define anything in the context of Russian existing legislation. There is no legal framework to regulate the activities of individuals who push for desirable political decisions and lobby for favourable political changes. A bill outlining the process and rules has been hung up in the State Duma for several years.

The realities of today's European market are such that businesses, especially in the field of energy are forced to present and uphold their interests in the different subdivisions and associated structures of the European Union. More than 75% of all legislation and regulations affecting the energy complex are created by EU institutions and must be followed in all member states, and in all countries aspiring for membership.

While Standard & Poors (S&P) is largely being blamed for the downgrade of credit rating, it may be useful to understand the basis of its assessment. After all Standard & Poors is only a messenger.

AALEP has been invited to attend a special hearing of the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs on interest group's activities of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to be held on 24 January 2012.

The forint has slid to record lows; two rating agencies have downgraded Hungary's public debt to junk; bond yields have topped 10%. Unemployment is nudging 11% and the labour force participation rate is among the lowest in Europe. Hungary has about € 4.6 billion of foreign debt maturing this year and probably sufficient resources to get through to the third quarter. But it's financing costs have risen to unsustainable levels and the forint suffered a sell-off as conditions in the eurozone, its main export market, deteriorated and growth prospects dimmed.

 In Europe the top Global Financial Centres include: London (1), Zurich (8), Geneva (9), Frankfurt (14), Paris (20), Luxembourg (21), Jersey (23), Munich (25), Guernsey (27), Edinburgh (29), Amsterdam (32), Dublin (33), Stockholm (33), Isle of Man (35), Madrid (37), Brussels (41), Milan (41), Vienna (43), Copenhagen (46), Glasgow (46), Rome (48), Monaco (51), Oslo (53), Prague (55), Gibraltar (56), Helsinki (56), Warsaw (59), Malta (59), Lisbon (64), Moscow (68), St. Petersburg (69), Istanbul (71), Budapest (72), Athens (73), Tallinn (74) and Reykjavik (75).

The Association Paris Europlace which represents key players in the French financial world speaks strongly against a French-only trading tax. The move comes after President Sarkozy said France should not wait for other European countries to get on board. The Association argues that such a tax would hurt the country's economy unless it was implemented across the European Union.

Back on 9 December 2011, the Eurozone heads of state and governments agreed on a 'fiscal compact', automatic correction mechanisms in the event of deviation from the target of 0.5 percent of an annual structural deficit of nominal GDP, and a deepening of fiscal integration. They also agreed on stronger policy coordination and governance under the enhanced cooperation procedure, and on the strengthening of the EFSF (European Financial Stability Facility) through leveraging, and the objective to have an operational European Stability Mechanism (ESM) by July 2012.