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Europe’s Debt Crisis Far From Over – Merkel

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A year after Europe stood on the brink of economic disaster, financial markets are calmer and the chances of the euro disintegrating have diminished, reports the CNN.

But the region’s most powerful political leader warns that the economic environment will be tougher in 2013.

In an address to mark the New Year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that the sovereign debt crisis which threatened to tear the eurozone apart shows how important it is to strike a balance between prosperity and solidarity.

“The reforms that we’ve introduced are beginning to have an impact,” she said. “But we still need a lot of patience. The crisis is far from over.”

“I know that many people are naturally concerned going into the new year,” Merkel added. “And in fact economic conditions will be more difficult rather than easier next year. But we shouldn’t let that discourage us; on the contrary, it should spur us on.”

As Europe’s biggest economy, Germany has shouldered much of the cost of bailing out weaker eurozone nations such as Greece, and establishing the region’s permanent rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism.

Together with the European Central Bank’s plan to buy the bonds of ailing eurozone nations, if they request an ESM bailout, Europe has given itself the tools to ward off collapse in the single currency zone for now. It has also taken the first steps toward closer integration with a single banking supervisor.

In return, highly indebted eurozone states have committed themselves to spending cuts and tax increases. But the austerity drive has already helped tip the eurozone back into recession, and German growth has all but disappeared as a consequence.

Economists warn that the 17-nation eurozone could contract further in 2013 as deficit-cutting measures bite deeper. Rising unemployment and falling tax receipts would make it harder for governments in countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece and even France to meet their budget targets.

That could unsettle financial markets again, particularly in countries where political instability is adding to the uncertainty. Italy has elections in February, and the outcome will determine whether Europe’s second most heavily indebted nation after Greece will continue with reforms started by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti.

In a report this month, the International Monetary Fund said it was expecting France to miss its 2013 target to keep debt at 3% of GDP, down from 4.5% in 2012, because of a more conservative growth forecast. It said the target was crucial to preserving market confidence and advised that “contingency measures” be prepared.

Merkel faces an election in September. The cost of European bailouts and slowing growth worry many Germans, but she has won support for steering Europe through its most challenging crisis in 60 years and her party has a clear lead in opinion polls.

However, a third term in office might depend on whether there’s a flare up in the eurozone crisis that presents Germany with another bill, a risk that some analysts say hasn’t gone away because weaker states won’t be able to cut their way back to prosperity.

“They will be living on a drip-feed, life-support system of bailouts for as long as the euro system continues in its present form,” wrote Tim Morgan of brokerage firm Tullet Prebon earlier this month.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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