Brussels, 09/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 9 December, the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, published an article in a number of European newspapers, including El País, in which he lists five ways of helping solve the economic crisis in Spain and the wider Europe.
Rajoy, a Christian Democrat who has been in power for two years, says that, to get out of the crisis, five things are crucial: 1) budget consolidation is needed, but it must be done gradually; 2) structural reforms are needed: Spain has already done a lot, such as introducing a budget stability law, reforming the civil service and education and ensuring a single market; 3) more reforms are needed at EU level to deepen the internal market; 4) progress in European integration is required by boosting the budget, economy, financial and democratic arms of economic and monetary union; 5) the problems with accessing credit and liquidity in the EU have to be solved. Rajoy said he was confident about Spain's ability to meet its budget targets of a public deficit of 6.5% in 2013 and 5.85 in 2014 and the gradual return of growth.
Rajoy said that he was more concerned these days about Europe, wanting all governments, including the German government, to have a clear view of the way forward. He stressed the importance of growth and integration now that the worst of the sovereign debt crisis is behind us. (MB/transl.fl)