In downgrading the sovereign debt rating of nine eurozone countries - France, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Cyprus - are analysts at rating agency Standard & Poor's guilty of a contempt for Europe akin to that shown by American soldiers when urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban?

Tags

Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!

It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.

Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!

Are you a news organisation, a business, an association or a foundation? Check out our bespoke editorial and translation services.

Support border-free European journalism

See our subscription offers, or donate to bolster our independence