This process of self-determination takes a tad longer to form than setting up an arranged marriage.

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It was Mr Howard who had written to Mr Habibie in December suggesting a process of self-determination for East Timor.

ECONOMIST: Australia

Instead there will be a slightly messier process, in which there is central determination - by the EBA, in collaboration with national regulators - of how much individual banks need, and then individual countries will decide how the money can and should be injected into their respective banks.

BBC: Will euro banks be saved before meltdown?

Under current legislation, even a single objection to a proposal to close a school immediately triggers a lengthy statutory process, re-visiting in fine detail all aspects of the way a decision was taken, with the Minister then required to make a final determination, a process which in some cases has dragged on for several months given the complexity of many proposals.

BBC: Taking ministers out of the loop