LISBON | The Portuguese Constitutional Court’s rejection of some proposed austerity measures is the latest setback for Portugal’s government. However, this is an opportunity truly to reform the state and end the current impasse.
BRUSSELS | By Ann Mettler | The worst response to the Italian elections would be not to speak the truth, to cave in to the idea that somehow “austerity” is to blame for the current woes, that once again breaking the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact would somehow improve the situation.
LONDON | The choices look grim for a Chancellor who must reduce the state’s debts and wants to be re-elected.
LONDON | If more than 99% of all European businesses are, in fact, small businesses that shape the true back-bone of the European economy, European governments are clearly missing the chance to generate at least a few millions of new jobs.
By Ralf Grahn, EU affairs advisor | This time around, are the heads of state or government going to send a credible message to the growing numbers of the unemployed on the road to long term joblessness and social exclusion?
MADRID | The most effective cuts were delivered by sheer lack of money as regional and local authorities faced a disruptive lock-out in the credit market.
From Presseurope.eu | By Daniel Oliveira | More than a million people of all ages took to the streets of Portugal on March 2 to demand an end to austerity. The growing discontent could bring down the political system that has been in place since the fall of the dictatorship.
MADRID | Something is moving in the EU. Those who up to now advocated doses of further austerity to cure Euro zone ailments, start faltering at the huge damage inflicted on the economy.
MADRID | Europe is unable to deliver growth on its own. By sticking to fiscal virtue, no matter the price as Ms Merkel has recently voiced, it lacks enough stamina to get out of the current recession.
Presseurop.eu | By François Musseau |European leaders are counting on Portugal to set an example of how austerity can succeed when it is applied seriously. Sadly, despite a unprecedented tightening of the screw, Lisbon is still being forced to sell off its “crown jewels” to halt its spiralling debts.