キプロスの国内総生産の7倍の銀行預金、10%の法人税や高金利の定期貯金などの脱税天国からの脱皮。
LA CUARTA PÁGINA
Chipre debe cambiar su modelo de negocio
Un sector bancario sobredimensionado ha demostrado ser insostenible y ha provocado el rescate pactado con la UE. Pero la pequeña isla tiene una tabla de salvación en el gas que yace debajo de las aguas del Mediterráneo
Javier Solana 26 MAR 2013 - 00:01 CET
The fourth page
Cyprus must change its business model
An oversized banking sector has proved unsustainable and led to the bailout agreed with the EU. But the small island has a lifeline in the gas that lies beneath the waters of the Mediterranean
Javier Solana 26 MAR 2013 - 00:01 CET
The presidential elections of February this year in Cyprus have had a remarkable peculiarity. For the first time in many years has been the economy, not reunification, the focus of the campaign. Nikos Anastasiadis began his presidency just three weeks ago with a clear economic mandate now passing through its most critical time. The tentative agreement between the troika and the Government means that perhaps the worst is over. The conditions, remove large reservoirs and in the closing of the second largest bank, will be tough. However, beyond redemption, there are some pockets of hope for this small, divided island: a huge source of energy wealth, with the right policies, could be exploited once calm returned to the country.
Cyprus is the latest example of the economic crisis affecting the Mediterranean nations. For years, the country has created a huge bubble bank, whose size is estimated to be about seven times the size of the Cypriot economy annually. The banking sector was fed with foreign money attracted by a very low corporate tax and high returns on deposits, which turned Cyprus into a tax haven. All within the framework of legal certainty comfortable euro zone.
This oversized banking sector proved unsustainable. Given much overexposure of banks toxic debt from neighboring Greece. In 2011, while the risk premium rose and the situation worsened, Russia, from which a third of the 68,000 million euros deposited in banks offered Nicosia Cypriot-shaped patch loan totaling 2,500 million euros over five years.
The first intervention was only a temporary fix, as the rescue I needed the island amounted to 17,000 million euros. However, a financial aid package for this amount would have taken the Cyprus public debt to 140% of GDP. It is a figure that the IMF considered unsustainable. The bailout agreed on 16 March in Brussels, and rejected by the Cypriot Parliament, was 10,000 million. To raise the rest had to think of measures. The formula, designed in Brussels in circumstances not very clear, was based on a tax on all bank deposits of the island. As we have seen, has proven to be a cure worse than the disease, although not applied at the end.
The country could have become instead of black money laundering of Russian corporations
The design of the first bailout was shaped by internal pressures to which they are subject some eurozone leaders. The exceptional nature of the bubble bank of Cyprus has made to other European states suspect that the island had become a place of black money laundering of Russian corporations. The risk that the precedent set by the first agreement has side effects in southern Europe is very high, both for the regional governments to the big and small savers.
Beyond this undeniable economic mess, it is important to put on the table has other valuable assets that Cyprus and that can certainly help alleviate their economic situation. For this small island, their salvation lies beneath the waters of the Mediterranean. In December 2011 the U.S. company Noble announced that it had discovered deposits of 200,000 million cubic meters of gas in the eastern Mediterranean. The site is called Aphrodite and as the Cypriot government could be worth around 80,000 million euros. Excavations have already begun to remove and production could start in 2018. According to experts, the island could ensure energy independence for the next 100 years. For Europe, with a huge energy dependence means a crucial source of supply. The future income from these assets begin now, in fact, to be considered as possible guarantees for a rescue package acceptable.
According to estimates by the U.S. Geological reserves in the area lying between the waters of Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel could get hold 3.45 trillion cubic meters of gas and 1,700 million barrels of oil. Given the location of reserves, exploitation, extraction and export of energy can only be done by way of cooperation.
For Europe, enormous energy dependence means a crucial source of supply
As with other oil and gas deposits, the law of the sea is crucial. Given the size of the wealth, the competition is an option that may seem lucrative at first, but cooperation would multiplier effects. In addition, economic agreements may be key to establishing cooperation in other areas. In fact, energy issues have contributed to strengthening relations of Israel and Cyprus, as evidenced by the agreement signed in 2010 that formally defines the respective EEZs. It's not easy, but neither is it ruled that such cooperation be extended to other neighbors that surround the reserves.
The good news is that the newly elected Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiadis, would be in favor of this approach with neighbors. It depends, of course, the presidential role in the redesign of the rescue package. Anastasiadis, Europeanist Party member and conservative Dimokratikós Sinayermós, won with 57% of votes cast in economic matters. The economy is definitely the first priority of the new government, but a closer look, beyond redemption, history Anastasiadis policy opens the door to hope.
In 2004, Anastasiadis was a supporter of the plan of then UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, United Nations developed and supported by the European Union to resolve the issue of the territorial integrity of the island. The reunification proposal passed by a republic formed by the federation of the two states, the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot. When did the referendum, was supported by two thirds of the 250,000 inhabitants of the Turkish side, but rejected by three quarters of Greek Cypriots. It is not inconceivable, therefore, that the new president breakthrough in thawing of negotiations and open dialogue on this ancient conflict that also poisoned relations between the EU and Turkey-pending, of course, the resolution of economic problems.
This opening would be a major breakthrough for Cyprus and the region as a whole. Facilitate a less strained position of Cyprus in the EU and improve relations between Greece and Turkey. The positive economic effects would spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean.
A relaxation in the security conditions allow Aegean to both Greece and Turkey cut its military spending, although there are other variables that constrain geopolitical. Recall that Greece is now the second country in the EU that more money allocated to defense in relative terms. Given the economic climate, saving military budget would be a major relief. Within this scenario, the recent cease-fire declared by the PKK Kurdish guerrillas is a hopeful sign for Turkey.
Tensions between Greece and Turkey have shown signs of improvement. Antonis Samaras's visit to Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul earlier this month is a good example. Deeper cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean can provide a wide range of affordable options, especially with regard to the exploitation of energy resources.
Anastasiadis takes less than a month in office and already in the middle of the perfect economic storm. Beyond the crisis, however, there is some light on the horizon. Hopefully the small island and the rest of the eastern Mediterranean neighbors know build bridges to reach it.
Javier Solana is president ESADEgeo, the Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics of ESADE, and distinguished associate at the Brookings Institution.
© Project Syndicate, 2013.
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