At the launch of the new Lisbon Council centre of excellence dedicated to entrepreneurs and SMEs, entitled Single Market Entrepreneurs (SME) Centre, Ann Mettler, executive director, stated that "companies that build the Internet into their business grow at twice the rate of those that don't."

Alessandro Leipold, chief economist of the Lisbon Council, claims that it is difficult to negotiate with a "Troika" when a crisis occurs.

Ann Mettler, executive director of the Lisbon Council, who recently chaired the first Innovation Convention in Brussels, encourages European entrepreneurs to learn from India about healthcare innovation.

In a recent blog, Miroslav Beblavy, economist and member of the Slovak Parliament, comments on The 2011 Euro Plus Monitor, the Lisbon Council and Berenberg Bank study.

Tentative talks are 'reportedly' ongoing to get the European Central Bank (ECB) to lend money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which would in turn be used to rescue needy eurozone members, said Alessandro Leipold, chief economist with the The Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think tank.

Alarm bells should be ringing for France, according to The 2011 Euro Plus Monitor, a report jointly published by the Lisbon Council and Berenberg Bank, as many worry it is falling behind other AAA rated countries.

Alessandro Leipold, chief economist of the Lisbon Council, comments on the recent political changes and prospects for reforms in Italy.

Portugal is the third most debilitated country in the eurozone, but placed seventh among those making the most rapid adjustment to the economic crisis, according to The 2011 Euro Plus Monitor published by the Lisbon Council and Berenberg Bank.

According to The 2011 Euro Plus Monitor, a new study by the Lisbon Council and Berenberg Bank, Estonia tops the ranking evaluating the overall economic health of the eurozone members and the speed of adjustment to the latest financial turmoil. 

The principal author of The 2011 Euro Plus Monitor, Dr. Holger Schmieding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank, comments on the findings of the study: "For France its a matter of national pride [not] to lose its AAA when Germany retains it. France might be willing to take the necessary steps to avoid that."