Brussels criticises Spain’s budget / EU vision of new Europe is less European

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 8.6.11
Publication Date 08/06/2011
Content Type

The European Commission adopted on the 7 June 2011 27 sets of country-specific recommendations, plus one for the euro area as a whole, to help Member States gear up their economic and social policies to deliver on growth, jobs and public finances.

These sets of recommendations were part of the European Semester, whereby, for the first time in 2011, Member States and the Commission began coordinating their economic and budgetary policies. Once priorities had been agreed at EU level, Member States presented their nationals programmes which the Commission has now fully assessed through these tailored, targeted and measurable recommendations.

Spain has adopted overly optimistic economic growth assumptions in its near-term budget plans and runs the risk of its public pension system destabilising government finances, the report for Spain suggested, and which could force Madrid to embark on another round of economic reforms.

Related Links
EurActiv, 8.6.11: EU warns member states over economic plans http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-warns-member-states-budget-plans-news-505426
European Commission: RAPID: Press Release: IP/11/685: Delivering on growth and jobs: Commission presents 2011 country-specific recommendations http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/685&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
ESO: Background information: EU economic governance: Commission sets the yearly priorities for EU growth http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-economic-governance-commission-sets-the-yearly-priorities-for-eu-growth/
ESO: Background information: Brussels set to urge more cuts http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-set-to-urge-more-cuts/
ESO: Background information: EU pledges large fines for fiscal sinners http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-pledges-large-fines-for-fiscal-sinners/
ESO: Background information: ‘Bankrupt’ claim heightens Spanish debt fears http://www.europeansources.info/record/bankrupt-claim-heightens-spanish-debt-fears/
EL Pais, 7.6.11: Brussels wants strict budget caps on Spain's regions http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Brussels/wants/strict/budget/caps/on/Spain/s/regions/elpepueng/20110607elpeng_7/Ten
BBC News, 7.6.11: EU Commission issues first economy reports to members http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13685102
European Commission: Europe 2020: Monitoring progress: Country-specific Recommendations 2011 http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/tools/monitoring/recommendations_2011/index_en.htm
EUObserver, 14.6.11: Four states push back against 'EU Semester' http://euobserver.com/9/32494
EUObserver, 9.6.11: 'New system of European governance' demands still deeper austerity http://euobserver.com/9/32462

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions , , ,