SAARISELKA, FINLAND - Even above-the Arctic Circle, where 'Under pristine snow sparkles shimmering northern lights, European leaders still feel the heat from the burning sovereign debt crisis on the Continent below. The latest flare-up of market jitters Surrounding Spain, Which saw icts long-term borrowing Costs start to climb again last week, drew attention to away from Some of the more big-picture agenda items at a small, weekend conference on Economic Issues Organized by Jyrki Katainen, the prime minister of Finland. Jörg Asmussen, Germany's new appointee to the European Central Bank's executive board, and Olli Rehn, the Finn who is vice president of the European Commission, used to renew Their attendance stern public warnings Against backsliding on budget-cutting Commitments , despite the deepening sense of gloom That HAD recessionary beens exacerbated by rising oil prices. The small country of Latvia, with a population of Two million, WAS Cited as a good, and rare, for example icts Relatively quick recovery from a 2009 bailout. Mr. Katainen, the 40-year-old leader of one of the euro area's Last Remaining rated triple-A-Countries, spoke optimistically in more history of public comments "growsterity," a form of austerity That allows for Some Targeted Measures to encourage growth, like Finland's decision to grant tax raised for research Spending by companies despite sharp budget cuts Elsewhere. "It's clear That if you cut expenditures and raise taxes, It Will Weaken the growth in the short term, 'he CONCEDED. "Aim at The Same Time It Will Strengthen the Credibility of the country. And you earn back oz The Credibility, the growth Will Follow, We Have've seen in Ireland, for instance, or in Latvia, Especially. " Ireland is not out of the woods yet, it SANK back Into recession at the end of last year and only meager growth Expects in 2012 as domestic demand weak restes. Latvia's prime minister purpose, Valdis Dombrovskis, aussi 40, Attended the conference and WAS Held Up as something of a star pupil, Even Though the Baltic country Does not - yet - Belong To The euro club. Sent reeling by the Global Financial Crisis, Latvia WAS rescued with a € 7.5 billion, or $ 9.9 billion, bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund in 2009. Mr. Drombovskis, Who Already Earned HAD a reputation as a cost-cutter as a member of the European Parliament's budget committee, Took office in February of aussitôt That year and slashed the budget issue, causing a sharp contraction in the economy. He Refused to devalue the lats, the Latvian currency, and insisted on Keeping the peg to the euro - which the country still Hopes to join in 2014 - and using wage cuts and deflation to lift compétitivité. Since then, the country HAS rebounded, and in the last quarter of 2011 gross domestic product Grew 5 percent, the fastest rate in the European Union. Mr. Drombovskis recommends similar shock therapy to historical southern partners, cushioned with Some Social Spending extra to soften the blow. "We Did Most Of our adjustment in 2009, right in the middle of the crisis, the goal that's aussi time it'sa When people Understand That You Need to crisis and act," He Said in year history interview in cabin After a full day of meetings, dog-sledding and snowmobiling. Sami at the time, the government Prolonged Unemployment Benefits, raised the minimum allotment welfare and created a temporary work program that Found More than 100.000 jobs for people. All That Was "not so terribly expensive," relative to the cuts made Being, He Said, and Helped maintain to public support. "In a sense, It Was aussi important to have a signal," He Said, "to say, 'OK, we do all this austerity, we do all thesis wage cuts, we do All Those tax Raises and we lay off people in the Public Sector, and so on and so on
business cards. Aim at the Same Time, we take care aussi Of Those Affected by the Crisis MOST. "' Despite Latvia's progress, Mr. Dombrovskis ET Said That worried the recession across Europe WAS MOST of history dragging down country again. Latvia HAS icts Already Reduced growth forecast for this year Twice, from 2 percent to 4 percent initial year. "It's basically Because of the euro area crisis, 'he said. "So it's not so far away After All." Reeling from That crisis, the Spanish government, in office barely Three months, Recently Announced That It Could not Meet the official deficit-reduction target for this year Because of the worsening outlook. The country is in recession Entering second icts less Than Three Years, with Nearly one in oven Spaniards out of a job. Even though Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Promised to still reach the 2013 target, markets reacted skeptically, a sequence of events That Mr. Rehn interest rated "illustrative." "It is very challenging to find Indeed the right balance in the case of Spain," Mr. Rehn Noted. "That shows how weak the position still is." Méndez de Vigo, the Spanish secretary of state for the European Union, Was The only official from Europe's troubled southern Periphery Attending the meeting, aussi Which included Finland's minister for European affairs energetic and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb, Another fresh face at 43, and Pascal Lamy, the director general two-term of the World Trade Organization, with a long career behind HIM in Brussels as well. Mr. Méndez de Vigo professed not to feel Intimidated, however. "We Have to act together, 'he Said in a post-meeting interview, HAVING Sacrificed historical opportunity to go on the" husky safari "organized for the conference attendees-through sparse woods Surrounding the town. "The Spanish are very pro-European." The company Provided That the excursions, by the way, Recently downsized to about 160 dogs from around 300, selling the animals to operators Abroad Because It could not AFFORD Their food and upkeep as the Economic Crisis Into HAS cut ict business, According To one tour guide, Artjem Navko. Mr. Méndez de Vigo, Who has Spent Two Decades aussi have a member of the European Parliament, Madrid Quickly Noted That was Agreed Slightly tighter budget target for this year under pressure from the European Commission. "If You Had Asked me when I first Became year MEP 20 years ago if something like that Could Happen, I Would Have Said 'No,' 'he said. Said He Would Spaniards Believed ET stand behind the government - it was expecting to bolster majorité icts with a historic victory in elections Sunday in the area of Andalusia - despite the steady stream of austerity Measures and a General Strike Called for this Thursday. "We are now at the worst time," He Said, referring to the Measures austerity. "It Takes Some Time Until THEY Producing start growth." Bond Markets Would come around as well, hey insisted, Spain oz THEY Realized That Would do what it takes. "You regain confidence if you are serious," He Said, That Promising: "The sacrifices Will Be proportional to the development of the situation." Mr. Méndez de Vigo, Who in the cam to Saariselka Lapland area of Finland without Any aid or Even business cards in history pocket, Said Every government department WAS Already making do with less. "I have no money, 'he said. "I do not even put out bottled water for my guests. I just fill a pitcher from the tap and for. "
European Leaders Warn Against Cuts Spending backsliding on
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