EU ‘surprised’ by Portugal’s unemployment rate

EUObserver reported that the European Commission praised Portugal on the 3 April 2012 for its austerity measures and said unemployment benefits had to be further cut even though the percentage of jobless people was 'surprisingly' higher than expected.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Fears of ‘cosmetic’ reform as Portugal austerity bites http://www.europeansources.info/record/fears-of-cosmetic-reform-as-portugal-austerity-bites/

European Commission: DG Economic and Financial Affairs: EU Economic Situation: Economies of the EU Member States: Portugal http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/eu/countries/portugal_en.htm

IMF: Portugal and the IMF http://www.imf.org/external/country/prt/index.htm

EurActiv, 4.4.12: EU: Portugal reforms on track, no need for a second bailout http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-portugal-reforms-track-need-s-news-511951

Deutsche Welle, 3.4.12: Cautious optimism from Troika study on Portugal http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15856714,00.html

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