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Merkel said she was gauging the effect of a recently announced euro32 billion German economic rescue plan before deciding on new steps. The EU economic stimulus report said: A rise of euro15 billion in regional economic lending by the European Investment Bank is bound to attract private financing The EU will be "flexible" in judging public spending. It now limits budget deficits in euro zone nations to 3 percent of GDP. That ceiling stays but the European Commission will impose less strict deadlines for governments to return to fall back into line. The eurozone's sound finances rules "will be applied judiciously," the report said. Governments must consider extending jobless benefits, cutting VAT and labor taxes and provide guarantees for loan subsidies to offset higher risk premiums. Economic reforms must be enacted across the EU to make European economies more competitive through retraining programs, slashing red tape and financial aid for research and development projects Europe "needs to accelerate" the shift to greener economies and step up investments in non-polluting sectors and technologies and invest seriously in better energy distribution networks. The report said the financial crisis and subsequent credit squeeze must not scare Europe away from pushing ahead with ambitious climate change targets. Apart from creating a cleaner environment, it said, measures such as slashing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean and renewable energy offer "new economic opportunities ... and create jobs."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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