欧元区努力确保经济稳定

Facing a severe debt crisis, Eurozone countries are looking for ways to secure economic stability and support growth. Spain’s public debt load has doubled since 2008, according to its central bank. The Spanish government is seeking to calm markets worried the country might need a bailout. Italy’s government has also announced measures to boost its domestic economy.While Germany says it’s resisting pressure to find quick fixes to the European crisis.

The Bank of Spain says that at the end of the first quarter this year, total public debt stood at 72 percent of gross domestic product. That was up from 65 percent in the same quarter last year and doubled its debt load in early 2008.

Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister, said, "The only way to regain confidence is to make structural reforms in Spain and across Europe. Europe is living through a difficult time with many countries facing an uncertain political future. We must evaluate these difficulties and prepare for structural reforms."

In Italy, the government announced 60 wide-ranging measures worth 80 billion euros to spur economic growth and lower the nation’s stubbornly high debt as its finances come under increasing pressure.

Mario Monti, Italian Prime Minister, said, "As far as the Ministry of the Economy is concerned, we’re planning to raise funds by selling off three state-owned companies in a bid to reduce the debt mountain and more privatisations are likely. We have been very decisive in slimming down the overall administrative structure such as merging government departments and reducing the number of employees.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, told a group of family-run businesses that she would resist any pressure to provide quick fixes to the eurozone crisis.

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, said, "...will not be forced into producing quick solutions, such as jointly issued eurobonds, stability funds, European deposits and security funds. If we agree to such solutions, politically we will be making the same mistake the markets made and we will fail to have a political union."

European leaders will meet in Brussels for talks on the debt crisis by the end of this month.