EU observers call Algerian elections a 'step towards reform'. There’s a vote on the 'two-pack' as eurozone meets over eurocrisis in Greece & Spain. Violence in Syria.

Algerian election / Vote on economic security / Syria in chaos

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15980995/n001-120514-002-enx_mf.srt

Algeria seems to have bucked  the trend set by the Arab Spring.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s ruling party  and its coalition allies remain in power

while Islamist parties have lost ground.

and EU observers would have preferred  more transparency

but they say it’s a step towards reform.

It’s important that it’s not  the Islamic extremists that have taken over,

it’s not the Salafists  that have won the elections,

and that's perhaps the basis  for further co-operation.

Will Greece remain in the euro?  Will the drachma make a comeback?

And how will the Eurogroup  solve Spain’s banking crisis?

the Economic Affairs Committee  have been considering the two-pack,

measures to permit the Commission  to examine financial policies,

boost banks’ capital reserves  and cap bankers’ bonuses.

With a good regulation, good supervision,  we can limit the risks.

Concerning the states, the financial  situation must now be put right -

without ignoring  the requirements of growth -

and the measures proposed by Commission  in the six-pack and two-pack should help.

The situation in Syria goes on, with the  outside world now seemingly unable to help.

It’s no longer just the Assad regime’s forces  against rebels, Syria’s conflict is spreading.

Today in Syria we see the appearance of  terrorist attacks that we hadn't seen before.

We see Syria's war  spreading to Lebanon.

At that point the entire Middle East  will be engulfed in conflict.