Belgium acts to calm market fears

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 13.7.11
Publication Date 13/07/2011
Content Type

Belgium sought to calm market fears about its ability to repay its bloated debt on the 12 July 2011 by unveiling better-than-expected budget deficit projections for 2011, giving it temporary respite from contagion fears gripping parts of the eurozone.

Belgium had in recent months faced occasional spikes in borrowing costs due to its outsized debt, worth around 97% of its gross domestic product, one of the highest ratios in Europe. Ratings agencies had also drawn attention to its chaotic domestic political scene, notably the absence of a permanent government for over a year.

Related Links
ESO: Background information: Di Rupo’s guide to saving a country http://www.europeansources.info/record/di-rupos-guide-to-saving-a-country/
Spiegel Online International, 13.7.11: Impasse Could Drag Belgium into Euro Crisis http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,774268,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 13.7.11: 'We're Not Crazy, Just a Little Different' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,773746,00.html

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