Portugal unveils tougher austerity measures

Portugal announced tough new austerity measures on 11 March 2011 including cuts of up to 10 per cent in state pensions in a bid to ease pressure building on the government to seek a financial bail-out.

The announcement came shortly before the start of an emergency eurozone summit in Brussels aimed at reviving negotiations on a comprehensive package of measures to deal with the eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

EUObserver, 11.3.11: Merkel salutes Portugal's 'remarkable' cuts to health, welfare http://euobserver.com/9/31975

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/164: Joint Statement by the European Commission and the European Central Bank on the measures announced by the Portuguese government http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/164&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission; RAPID: MEMO/11/159: Statement by Commissioner Rehn on Portugal http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/159&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Deutsche Welle, 11.3.11: Portugal ups austerity measures ahead of euro summit http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14906134,00.html

Deutsche Welle, 12.3.11: Migrants in crisis-hit Portugal seek help to return home http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14903351,00.html

ESO: Background information: Austria urges Portugal to decide about aid http://www.europeansources.info/record/austria-urges-portugal-to-decide-about-aid/

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