Following a Eurogroup decision on March 25 an agreement was concluded between the Cypriot authorities and the Troika (European Commission, ECB, IFM), for a bailout deal including, among other provisions, losses on Bank of Cyprus’ uninsured depositors (over 100.000 euros). UKIP MEPs William Dartmouth and Roger Helmer (EFD Group) express their stupor. Besides the Eurocrisis and at the time of the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, they also evoke her political and moral heritage.

Is the so-called "two-pack" economic governance for strengthening the European Commission's powers to vet Member States' budgets a good new for economy or for technocracy ? MEP Roger Helmer (EFD Group) has no doubts :"the Commission loves the idea of what it calls a beneficial crisis".

Responding to passing of the Greek bailout plan this morning, UKIP Leader Nigel Farage said: "Greeks, beware of EU lenders bearing debts. They will strangle your economy and destroy your democracy. This so-called bailout will not help the Greek people one iota,only German and French banks.The Greeks don't need draconian death by a thousand cuts; they need the drachma back so they can reboot their economy. Cheap credit from inappropriate Euro membership was a disaster for the Greek economy. Eurozone membership is now also a disaster for their democracy.

Data that show a gradual decline in the general government deficit and demonstrate an improvement in the competitiveness of the Greek economy, were presented by Greece's Prime Minister L. Papademos to his counterparts during the recent summit of the European Council on 31st January, in an effort to alleviate the pressures of introducing new harsh measures.