Brussels, 26/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 26 November, a spokesperson for EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said that the European Commission did not know about any so-called “pressure”, responding to reports in FT Deutschland, from eurozone member states and the ECB pressurising Portugal to apply for international financial aid. AFP reports that speaking in Paris the same day, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, commented that no aid programme had been asked for or suggested for Portugal. The Portuguese government has also scotched the rumours appearing in the media.
According to the Commission, the 2011 austerity budget adopted by the Portuguese parliament on Friday is capable of increasing confidence in the country's ability to respect its budget commitments. At the last meeting of the Eurogroup, Olli Rehn explained that the problems facing Portugal are very different from those facing Ireland (see EUROPE 10258), as banks in Portugal are relatively resistant and in good health. Lisbon's efforts are more focused on consolidating the budget and introducing structural reforms, he added. Portugal has pledged to cut its public deficit to 4.6% next year. (M.B./transl.fl)