Berlin takes youth unemployment fight to Southern Europe

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble and Portugal's Vítor Gaspar inked an agreement on the 22 May 2013 to fight youth unemployment in the debt-laden Southern European state. A similar deal was signed with Spain last month in what the opposition Social Democrats described as a belated attempt to restore Germany’s image in Southern Europe.

Wolfgang Schäuble sounded almost like a new convert extolling the wonders of heaven as he raved about his latest conclusions on the subject of saving the euro. "We need more investment, and we need more programs," the German finance minister announced after a meeting with Vitor Gaspar, his Portuguese counterpart.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Eurozone unemployment at record high as inflation drops http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-unemployment-at-record-high-as-inflation-drops/

ESO: Background information: Nearly two-thirds of Greek youths are unemployed http://www.europeansources.info/record/nearly-two-thirds-of-greek-youths-are-unemployed/

Deutsche Welle, 28.05.13: EU looks to curb youth unemployment http://www.dw.de/eu-looks-to-curb-youth-unemployment/a-16841252

Spiegel Online International, 28.05.13: Distorted Stats: Europe's Youth Unemployment Fallacy http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/students-left-out-youth-unemployment-statistics-distorted-in-europe-a-902301.html

Spiegel Online International, 27.05.13: Austerity About-Face: German Government to Gamble on Stimulus http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-government-to-test-stimulus-instead-of-austerity-a-901946.html

Deutsche Welle, 28.05.13: Opinion: It's time to act on unemployment! http://www.dw.de/opinion-its-time-to-act-on-unemployment/a-16842196

EUObserver, 28.05.13: Germany to help Spain with cheap loans http://euobserver.com/economic/120278

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