Now playing Next Economy Watch: Spain & Netherlands strike surprising alliance on fiscal reform The two countries want the EU fiscal rules to become more simple, transparent and realistic. 05/04/2022
Now playing Next world news Euro area debt soars to 98% of GDP amid COVID-19 crisis - Eurostat Public debt and deficit surged last year across the EU as governments borrowed massively to mitigate the impacts of pandemic lockdowns. 22/04/2021
Now playing Next Real Economy Fiscal Rules: Towards a new growth model for Europe IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece are among the countries with debt-to-GDP ratios near or above 100% 26/02/2020
Now playing Next Economy Portugal no longer breaking EU budget deficit rules European Commission to end disciplinary budget procedures against Portugal and Croatia, but France, Spain and the UK remain above deficit limits. 22/05/2017
Now playing Next Economy EU warns Macron over French budget deficit EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici says incoming president Emmanuel Macron must work on permanently reducing France's budget deficit. 09/05/2017
Now playing Next Economy France's fragile economy is Hollande's unwanted legacy Outgoing French President Francois Hollande promised to fix the economy five years ago. But despite stablising the public accounts he has failed to get the French back to work as promised. 24/03/2017
Now playing Next Spain Spain poised for new government after 10 months of political limbo Spain is set to get its first real government in 10 months. 25/10/2016
Now playing Next Economy Portugal tries for a budget balance between deficit and austerity Portugal's Socialist minority government has unveiled a 2017 budget intended to reduce the deficit, but also roll back some austerity measures. 14/10/2016
Now playing Next Economy EU seeks to sanction Spain, Portugal over spending Spain and Portugal could faces fines for breaching EU spending rules after the European Commission opened a sanctions procedure on Thursday over both countries failure to tackle their budget… 07/07/2016
Now playing Next Economy Spain wants to slow deficit reduction Spain plans to cut its government deficit this year and next at a slower pace than originally agreed with the European Commission as it struggles to bring its public debt in line with Brussels' demand 19/04/2016
Now playing Next Economy France confident on deficit reduction, European Commission not convinced French Finance Minister Michel Sapin has said the country will meet its 2016 target for cutting its public deficit but the European Commission does not believe it can achieve that. 04/02/2016
Now playing Next Greece Greece: new round of debt talks as default looms Denying that a debt default was discussed, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with his negotiating team before they headed to Brussels for 12/06/2015