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Summary
In an emotive debate with eurosceptics, ALDE’s charismatic Verhofstadt could score well. UKIP’s refusal to deal with Le Pen could prevent a damaging sceptic bloc in the EP.
ECON grilled the Troika over its performance and the experience gained by Europe in crisis-handling may obviate the need for it in the future.
Chancellor Merkel held her State of the Nation address in front of the German Bundestag. The WSJ reported that she underscored her support for closer economic integration in Europe, warning the crisis will never be overcome in the long term unless the bloc undertakes a "quantum leap" to fix the "lacking" economic coordination.
The Czech government is setting a new policy course on Europe and that may have profound implications for the UK. If this government signs up for Banking Union – perhaps followed by the new government in Hungary – then the UK’s much vaunted deal on Banking Union will turn to ashes.
Respondents to the UK's Balance of Competences Review on EU Budget and Financial Services argued that the UK has much to gain by retaining influence on EU rule-making for financial services.