Eurozone Debt Crisis

While the UK Government stayed on the sidelines of the Eurozone crisis, Sharon has been at the heart of the debate for over a year.

Her speeches in Parliament and statements have been well ahead of the game and she has received plaudits for her ideas from academics, European Commissioners and the media.

Spanish Commissioner, Joaquim Almunia, said: "That's leadership!" and former Commissioner and economics professor, Mario Monti, publicly described Sharon's contribution as: "the product of a brilliant British mind", adding that continentals should not discount it because it was British.

So what has been going on? Sharon explains:

"Greece's problems stem from bad management and denial of the truth, Ireland's from a property bubble and the size of its banking sector, while Portugal had low growth and an inability to respond to the spreading crisis. More decisive action from the outset would have given a better chance of protecting Spain and Italy.

"Many have been tempted by the 'let them default' argument for Greece but a disorderly event might lead to a 'Lehman-type' freezing of the whole financial system. When Lehman Brothers went under, the feeling of 'they got what they deserved' did not last long when the turmoil spread. As a legislator, I have been concentrating ever since on ways to shield taxpayers from another banking meltdown. Our work is not yet complete and the last thing we need is another mammoth, unpredictable event.

"Larger and progressively bolder rescue loan arrangements have been made but always too late and not sufficiently comprehensive. Even bigger steps will need to be taken to avoid a worsening of the crisis. However, the break up of the Euro would cause financial turmoil for everyone, including the UK.

"So, as Sherlock Holmes would say, we are left with the 'improbable', namely Eurobonds (Germany hates the idea but they do make billions extra in exports because the Euro is at a more competitive rate than a German national currency would be).

"In any case, for the time being, this story is far from over."

Keep up to date with Sharon's views on the Eurozone crisis below:

23rd May 2012 - Public Service Europe - Push ahead with financial transaction tax, MEPs urge

Sharon Bowles MEP rejects EU financial transaction tax as "Sheriff of Nottingham tax" (23rd March 2012)

21st May 2012 - BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour - Sharon talks about Greek crisis

14th May 2012 - FT - UK ready to back EU bank reform

14th May 2012 - Reuters - European Parliament panel backs cap on bank bonuses

14th May 2012 - Bloomberg - Bank Bonus Curbs Endorsed by EU Lawmakers in Vote on Basel Rules

14th May 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle - Bank Bonus Curbs Endorsed by EU Lawmakers in Vote on Basel Rules

European Parliament votes on Capital Requirements Regulation - Comments by Sharon Bowles MEP (14th May 2012)

5th May 2012 - Cyprus Mail - MEPs discuss economic issues ahead of Cyprus' presidency

30th April 2012 - Bloomberg TV - 'Constrained Discretion' Seen for EU Bank Capital

19th April 2012 - Europolitics - Pro-membership Schulz and Bowles want new type of bilateralism

19th April 2012 - Bloomberg - Bank Funding at Risk From Rules Considered by EU Lawmakers

Sharon Bowles tells Irish parliament 'EU fiscal treaty is vital for ECB" (4th April 2012)

29th March 2012 - European Voice - MEPs back derivatives deal

29th March 2012 - Bloomberg - EU Lawmakers Back Deal on Clearing Rules for OTC Derivatives

European Parliament votes through EMIR - Sharon Bowles MEP comments (29th March 2012)

19th March 2012 - Reuters - Funding cost fears delay EU bank crisis plan

"We must protect European financial watchdog funding" says Euro MP (14th March 2012)

9th March 2012 - FT - Sharon comments on LSE / Clearney deal

5th March 2012 - Money Marketing - MEP Bowles presses for tax simplification

Sharon's speech to the Brussels Tax Forum (5th March 2012)

2nd March 2012 - Daily Politics - Sharon discusses Eurozone crisis (12 minutes, 50 seconds in)

South East Euro MP backs campaign to boost small businesses (1st March 2012)

"Asian countries are concerned over spill-over effect of Eurozone crisis on world trade" - BOWLES (22nd February 2012)

22nd February 2012 - Bloomberg - Europe's Worst-Case Scenario for Debt Crisis Over, Bowles says

"Eurobonds and Eurobills should be part of the recovery" says British Euro MP Sharon Bowles (15th February 2012)

9th February 2012 - Money Marketing - MEP backing shake-up for bank's court

4th February 2012 - Today Programme - Sharon discusses Eurozone crisis (52 minutes in)

2nd February 2012 - FT - Delays hit EU insurance revamp, says regulator

"ECB's liquiduty operations could cost future generations" - Sharon Bowles MEP (1st February 2012)

Nick Clegg: Re-election of Sharon Bowles MEP welcome news (31st January 2012)

31st January 2012 - FT - The ECB: it's a man's world

31st January 2012 - GFS News - Bowles blasts lack of women at ECB

"The European Central Bank should not be a man's world" - Sharon Bowles MEP (31st January 2012)

26th January 2012 - BBC Daily Politics - Sharon discusses the eurozone crisis (9 minutes, 40 seconds in)

24th January 2012 - Reuters - EU lawmakers want bank buffers for sovereign debt

24th January 2012 - Financial News - Emir completion in sight

24th January 2012 - Risk.net - UK MEP re-elected as head of European economic committee

23rd January 2012 - Insurance Times - UK MEP stays in Solvency II driving seat

23rd January 2012 - Money Marketing - British MEPs stay at top of Econ committee

23rd January 2012 - Public Service Europe - Sharon Bowles re-elected ECON chair

23rd January 2012 - GFS News - Bowles re-elected as Parliament's Econ chair

Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles re-elected Chair of European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (23rd January 2012)

23rd January 2012 - Bloomberg - Bank-Capital Rule on Sovereign Debt Targeted by EU Lawmakers

17th January 2012 - theparliament.com - EU summit conclusions: Sharon Bowles

15th January 2012 - Independent on Sunday - UK looks east as eurozone absorbs more rating shocks

12th January 2012 - Money Marketing - Leading MEP wants impact of transaction tax eased

11th January 2012 - Mid Sussex Times - Sussex MEP on Capitalism review committee

South East Euro MP Sharon Bowles joins capitalism project taskforce (10th January 2012)

7th January 2012 - Telegraph - David Cameron's EU veto puts job of MEP Sharon Bowles in jeopardy

15th December 2011 - Money Marketing - Bowles: UK looks like a sulky child

Euro MPs free small firms from EU accounting rules (14th December 2011)

"Cameron's demands were a wolf in sheep's clothing which fooled no-one and jeopardised UK interests" - Sharon Bowles MEP (13th December 2011)

11th December 2011 - Sky News - Sharon discusses Cameron's veto of the Stability Union Treaty

9th December 2011 - GFS - Bowles: UK relegated to sidelines of Europe

"Cameron has played a dangerous game and lost" says Euro MP Sharon Bowles (9th December 2011)

7th December 2011 - Southern Daily Echo - Hampshire MEP warns of euro collapse

"We are potentially facing the demise of the Euro by Christmas" - Sharon Bowles MEP (2nd December 2011)

2nd December 2011 - Money Marketing - MEP Sharon Bowles: it could be game over for the euro

"Non-financial firms should not be too big to fail" says Euro MP Sharon Bowles (1st December 2011)

1st December 2011 - Mortgage Strategy - MEP Sharon Bowles warns both Europe and euro could be gone in six months

28th November 2011 - Reuters - EU lawmakers seek to broaden bank capital law

23rd November 2011 - FT - Sharon's op-ed for the Financial Times

23rd November 2011 - Today Programme - Sharon discusses Eurobonds (16 minutes, 30 seconds in)

23rd November 2011 - GFS - Commission set to unveil eurobond plan

Op-ed on the Eurozone crisis by Sharon Bowles MEP in the Financial Times (23rd November 2011)

"Eurobonds are a long-term answer but won't solve immediate Eurozone problems" - Sharon Bowles MEP (23rd November 2011)

Plenary speech to the European Parliament by Sharon Bowles MEP (18th November 2011)

15th November 2011 - CCR Magazine - Euro MP Sharon Bowles' radical plan to make lending to SMEs more attractive

Euro MP Sharon Bowles' radical plan to make lending to SMEs more attractive (14th November 2011)

14th November 2011 - The Trade News - EMIR slated to be finalised in two weeks

14th November 2011 - GFS - An MEP's viewpoint: Europe's Catch 2012

12th November 2011 - PM - Sharon talks about the direction of the Eurozone crisis

10th November 2011 - European Voice - MEPs seek greater role in tackling eurozone debt crisis

10th November 2011 - BBC Daily Politics - Sharon discusses Italy and the Eurozone crisis

4th November 2011 - BBC Daily Politics - Sharon discusses Greece and Eurozone crisis

2nd November 2011 - Bloomberg - Greek Referendum Thwarting EU Momentum

30th October 2011 - File on 4: Cash from the Crisis - Sharon comments on hedge funds and the Eurozone crisis (30 minutes, 30 seconds in)

27th October 2011 - The World at One - Sharon comments on the Eurozone summit (10 minutes, 45 seconds in)

Sharon Bowles MEP - plenary speech on the outcome of the Eurozone summit (27th October 2011)

26th October 2011 - Guardian - Why is Germany refusing to budge on the eurozone debt crisis?

25th October 2011 - BBC News - Eurozone financial crisis: winners and losers

"European Council: There will be no silver bullet solution" - Sharon Bowles MEP (26th October 2011)

"European leaders are on borrowed time to save the Euro" - Sharon Bowles MEP (21st October 2011)

Speech by Sharon Bowles MEP to AFME Bond conference in Brussels (21st October 2011)

12th October 2011 - Today Programme - Sharon debates the Eurozone bailout fund

Sharon Bowles MEP thanks outgoing European Central Bank President for hard work (5th October 2011)

Sharon Bowles MEP accuses Conservative and Labour MEPs of threatening the economic stability of the City and the UK (28th September 2011)

"New Economic Governance rules give EU hope for future stability" says Sharon Bowles MEP (28th September 2011)

8th September 2011 - GFS - Lib Dem takes issue with Tories on EU

Chair of European Parliament's powerful ECON Committee hits out at Tory Eurosceptics attempting to undermine UK's position in EU (8th September 2011)

Euro MP Sharon Bowles named on list of Top 10 'most influential' regulators (5th September 2011)

Sharon Bowles MEP on CNN (30th August 2011)

Sharon Bowles MEP on the Today Programme (30th August 2011)

Sharon Bowles MEP on Radio 5 Live (30th August 2011)

MEP criticses European politicians who ignore markets (30th August 2011)

Statement by Sharon Bowles MEP at the opening of the extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (29th August 2011)

Saving the Euro is paramount (Sharon's piece for Public Service Europe) (26th August 2011)

EU Parliament set to get tough on debt crisis (25th August 2011)

Sharon's Brussels Bulletin for Lib Dem News (August 2011)

Sharon on the BBC's Daily Politics programme (4th July 2011)