#Europe: If the #UK quits the #EU, what happens to #Ireland?

As the UK general election looms, a subsequent UK exit from the EU is a real possibility. This extract from a new book analyses the consequences for the Republic.

As the UK general election looms, and with a subsequent referendum on Europe highly likely, a UK exit from the EU becomes a real possibility. A new book, Britain and Europe: The Endgame – An Irish Perspective, examines possible future relationships between the United Kingdom and the European Union and their implications for Ireland... (Read more)

EXTERNAL EXPANSION LTD., www.externalexpansion.net

#USA: Wider #UStradedeficit, #weakexports point to #slowergrowth

The Commerce Department says trade gap increased 7.6% to $43.03bn in September

Cargo containers are ready for transportation at the Port of Los Angeles

The US trade deficit unexpectedly widened in September as exports hit a five-month low, suggesting slowing global demand could undercut economic growth in the final three months of the year... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Ireland: Europe’s Irish presence in the #transatlanticcorridor

David O’Sullivan, the new EU ambassador to the US, is assuming the role at an important political moment

David O’Sullivan: the chief operating officer of the European Union’s diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service

Sitting in his office in the European External Action Services (EEAS) headquarters in central Brussels, David O’Sullivan apologises for the bareness of the room. Most of his belongings have already been shipped to Washington, he explains. The distinctive blue flag of the European Union is still there, however, soon to be joined by the stars and stripes of the US flag as the Churchtown native prepares to take up his new role as EU ambassador... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Ireland: Talking #Turkey as a market to replace #Russia

Ireland is not currently looking to Turkey as a replacement market for Russia. But should we be?

Eastern promise: Istanbul – Enterprise Ireland opened an office in the city in January

Stephen Starr

Irish food exporters are up against it. The Russian ban on EU and others’ foodstuffs over the conflict in Ukraine has had another negative consequence: a scramble with EU neighbours for access to replacement markets... (Read more).

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

#Russia: Ruble Plummets as #EU Ends Uncertainty Over #Sanctions

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  Mariano Rajoy Brey, Spanish Prime Minister,right, and José Manuel Barroso, center, in the presence of Pedro Passos Coelho, Portuguese Prime Minister, at a special meeting of the European Council last month.
  Photo: Ec.europa.eu

The Russian currency plunged to historic lows against the dollar Thursday as the European Union appeared to end more than a week of vacillation by opting to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia over its backing of separatist fighters in eastern Ukraine... (Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Russian sanctions start to bite as growth forecasts are downgraded

Lending restrictions are not causing immediate panic but, with food shortages and price rises, the winter outlook is grim.

Six months after the confrontation over Ukraine first blew up, the damage is starting to be counted in dollars, euros and roubles. And as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met his counterparts from Ukraine, Germany and France, he will have been aware that it is Russia that has most to lose from a protracted economic stand-off with the west....

(Read more)

External Expansion, www.externalexpansion.net,

Russian Foreign Ministry Slams EU For Lifting Ukraine Military Export Ban

The European Union applied "double standards" in lifting a ban on military exports to Ukraine, in a move that could contribute to internal repression in the conflict-torn country, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a strongly worded statement...

(Read more)

EU, US extend sanctions on Russia over ‘Ukraine violence’

Co-ordinated approach targets trade, energy, banks, technology, arms and finance sector

The new round of sanctions targets Russian oil, rather than gas, outlawing exports of oil exploration equipment to Russia. About 30 per cent of the European Union’s gas supply comes from Russia.Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

(Read more)

EU must not leave Asian relations to the US

Opinion: For the most part, European states have no security presence in Asia

Under the Obama administration, US policy has rebalanced or pivoted towards Asia.

(Read more)

Russia: Ukrainian Gas System Unlikely to Find U.S., EU Investors

Ukraine's move Friday toward attempting to sell nearly 50 percent in its gas pipeline system to EU and U.S. investors does not mean that Western buyers will rush to take up the offer, as the system's value depends on a steady supply of Russian gas, energy analysts told The St. Petersburg Times...

By Ivan Nechepurenko. The St. Petersburg Times. Published: July 5, 2014. (Click here to complete new)

Ukraine-EU Economic Accord Marks a Turning Point

Peterson Institute for International Economics. Anders Aslund — June 27, 2014
(Click here to original interview)
Anders Åslund explains why Putin's threats of retaliation against Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia will hurt the Russian economy and its reputation among potential investors.

Ukraine signs ‘historic’ free-trade deal with EU

THE IRISH TIMES  (Reuters/PA    First published: Fri, Jun 27, 2014, 09:36)

(click this link to original new)

Georgia, Moldova sign similar agreements as Russia warns of ‘grave consqeuences

Ukraine signed a historic free-trade and political cooperation agreement with the European Union today that has been at the heart of the country’s political crisis, drawing an immediate threat of “grave consequences” from Russia.

Ex-USSR states Georgia and Moldova signed similar deals, which fall short of full EU membership but hold out the prospect of deep economic integration and unfettered access to the EU’s 500 million citizens. It signals a turning away from Russia and moving closer to the West.

“Over the last months, Ukraine paid the highest possible price to make her European dreams come true,” Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko told EU leaders at a signing ceremony in Brussels.