Spain and Greece outlined plans Thursday to reduce government spending and raise taxes to convince international lenders and financial markets they are on track to cut their deficits.
The latest round of belt-tightening comes as economies across Europe get weaker and public resentment toward austerity grows stronger.
Spain's plan to slash its deficit in 2013 and 2014 signals to many analysts that it's preparing to request a financial lifeline from other governments and the European Central Bank. To receive this help, countries must first show they are serious about reining in deficits.
“This is a budget in times of crisis but one to help get out of the crisis,” deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said.
For similar reasons, Greece's coalition government agreed to cut spending over the next two years by (euro) 11.5 billion ($14.77 billion). Without the cuts, Greece would have been cut off from vital bailout loans that it needs to pay its bills _ and stay in the eurozone. The loans come from the International Monetary Fund, European Union and the ECB.
Financial markets cheered the budget-cutting. In Europe, stocks rose in anticipation of the Spanish measures. France's benchmark stock index finished 0.7 percent higher and Germany's main index rose 0.2 percent. Borrowing costs for Spain and Italy fell, and the Dow Jones industrial average rose 72 points.
But the region remains in trouble. Economic confidence in the 17 countries that use the euro fell to its lowest level in over three years, according to a survey by the European Union's Commission. Meanwhile, unemployment figures in Germany continued to drift higher, in spite of a small seasonal boost in jobs, underlining concerns that Europe's biggest economy is slowing down.
Across Europe, six countries are in recession and economists predict the entire region could be heading for recession by the end of the year.
Throughout the three-year financial crisis, eurozone governments have had to impose harsh cuts and reforms to get control of their debts and _ in the case of Greece, Portugal and Ireland _ qualify for vital aid. The austerity measures have hit citizens with wage cuts and fewer services, and reduced government spending has undermined growth.
In some countries, the austerity measures have sparked violent protests. But governments have pressed on with the cuts and reforms to get the eurozone financial crisis under control _ and to get help from other countries and organizations.
Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro said Thursday Spain's draft budget for 2013 would cut overall spending by (euro) 40 billion ($51 billion).
Spain has come under pressure to take up the ECB on its offer to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds to help lower borrowing costs for countries struggling to manage their debts. Such large-scale purchases of short-term government bonds would drive up their price and push down their interest rate and take some pressure off of financially stressed governments such as Spain.
Spain is at the center of the eurozone crisis _ its (euro) 1.4 trillion ($1.8 trillion) economy is the fourth-largest among the 17 countries that use the euro. The country is struggling to prop up its shaky banking sector and support its heavily indebted regional governments. It has already introduced several packages of tax hikes, civil servant wage cuts and freezes in a bid to get out of the crisis.
To get help from the ECB, Spain must first ask for assistance from the rest of the eurozone. So far, the government has been reluctant to ask for fear of the conditions the other countries will attach to its aid. Analysts say the Spanish government hopes Thursday's budget measures will be enough to stop the eurozone from imposing further spending and deficit controls if and when Spain asks for help.
Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said the measures “go beyond” the steps European officials have recommended that Spain should take. He added that Spain was consulting with other countries in the bloc but has still not decided whether to ask for a bailout.
The country is battling to fulfill an EU commitment to reduce its deficit in relation to economic output from 8.9 percent last year to 6.3 percent in 2012, 4.5 percent next year and to 2.8 percent by the end of 2014.
Montoro said Spain would meet the 2012 deficit target despite recent reports that it was off-target eight months into the year. “We're on a very viable path,” he said.
Among new taxes to be levied, Montoro said all national lottery prizes of more than (euro) 2,500 ($3,210) would be taxed 20 percent. Saenz de Santamari, meanwhile, announced a new body to oversee regional and local governments' adherence to deficit-reduction targets.
Thursday's budget package comes in the wake of anti-austerity protests in Madrid over the past two nights. More protests are planned for Saturday.
The Greek coalition government hopes that Thursday's agreement on austerity cuts will be enough to meet the targets demanded by its international lenders and keep the vital bailout loans coming.
Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras said the long-delayed agreement placed him in a stronger negotiating position ahead of talks Monday with representatives from the country's bailout creditors, who will have the final word on the cutbacks.
Greece has relied on international bailouts since May 2010. In return, it has imposed a punishing austerity program, repeatedly slashing incomes, hiking taxes and raising retirement ages.
On top of the (euro) 11.5 billion that has to be axed from state spending in 2013-14, Athens must also boost state revenues by an additional (euro) 2 billion over the next two years through tax reform and improved tax collection.
The three-party meeting came a day after more than 50,000 anti-austerity protesters took to the streets of Athens, in a demonstration marred by clashes between anarchists and riot police.
The conservative-led coalition has been debating the new cutbacks for about two months. But a deal was delayed by opposition from the two center-left junior partners _ coupled with disagreements with the austerity inspectors.
Socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said after Thursday's two-and-a-half hour talks that he would “struggle to the end to ensure that these measures are not across the board and are fair ... and that they are truly the last,” as Samaras has pledged. (AP)
<관련 한글 기사>
스페인, 400억유로 절감 내년 예산안 발표
스페인 정부는 27일 재정적자 감축 목표를 달 성하기 위해 긴축을 더욱 강화해 400억유로를 절감하는 내용의 2013년 예산안을 발표했다.
스페인 정부는 이날 각료회의를 열어 내년도 예산안과 그에 따른 경제 개혁안을 확정하고 오는 29일 의회에 제출하기로 했다고 밝혔다고 스페인 언론이 보도했다.
소라야 사엔스 데 산타마리아 부총리는 기자회견에서 내년 예산안이 대부분 지 출을 줄이는데 초점이 맞춰졌다며 절감액 가운데 58%는 예산 삭감으로, 나머지 42%는 세금 인상으로 충당할 계획이라고 말했다.
스페인 국민당 정부는 이를 위해 내년부터 2천500유로 이상 복권에 당첨되면 20 %의 세금을 부과하고 부유세를 늘리기로 했으며 법인세 감면 혜택을 줄이기로 했다.
스페인 정부는 그러나 작년 총선 공약에 따라 연금은 줄이지 않고 오히려 1% 증액하기로 했으며 장학기금과 부채 이자 비용도 늘리기로 했다.
스페인은 아울러 공공재정을 감독할 독립 기구를 설립해 재정 집행의 투명성을 높이기로 했다.
스페인은 내년 예산안의 구체적인 절감액을 밝히지는 않았지만 시장에선 약 400억유로가 될 것으로 예상했다.
산타마리아 부총리는 "위기에서 벗어나기 위한 예산 편성"이라고 말했으며, 크리스토발 몬토로 예산장관은 "재정적자를 감축할 뿐만 아니라 경제성장과 고용 창출을 위한 예산안"이라고 말했다.
이에 대해 올리 렌 유럽연합(EU) 경제담당 집행위원은 "경제와 공공재정을 안정 시키기 위한 야망 있는 예산안"이라며 "포괄적인 개혁안도 구조 개혁을 더욱 공고히 할 중요한 조치"라고 평가했다.
스페인은 지난해 국내총생산(GDP)의 8.9%였던 재정적자를 올해엔 6.3%로 낮춰야 하며 내년에는 4.5% 수준으로 더 낮춰야 한다.
그러나 스페인은 내년에 이자 비용으로만 380억유로를 지출해야 하는데다 현재 재정적자 규모도 7%에 달하고 있어 재정적자 목표를 당초 설정한 시한에 달성하기는 쉽지 않을 것이라고 시장 관계자들은 전망했다.
스페인은 이 예산안과 28일 발표되는 국제 컨설팅업체들의 스페인 은행 재무건전성 점검 결과를 바탕으로 유럽연합(EU)에 전면 구제금융을 신청해야 할지와 그 규모를 결정할 것으로 예상된다.
엘 파이스 신문 인터넷판은 은행 재무건전성 점검에서 산탄데르•BBVA•라카익사 등 6개 대형 은행은 최악의 경우에도 구제를 받지 않을 것으로 예상된다고 보도했다.
