Catalan economy grows by 0.1% and gets out of recession, confirms minister

The minister for Economy and Finance, Antoni Castells, has confirmed that the Catalan economy has grown by 0.1 per cent in the second half of 2010. The politician said that a new trend is pushing the economy towards recovery
“The data for the full year, however, will still be negative,” he announced.

The 0.1% growth rate of the Catalan economy represents a slight recovery in comparison with the first quarter, when the economy experienced 0% growth.

“The economic data suggest a trend towards recovery,” said the minister. “It is obvious that we are not in the same situation as before the crisis, but we are growing,” he admitted, stating that in 2011 he expects a higher level of growth in Catalonia than in Spain.

Castells defended the government’s economic recovery plans as well as its strategy to reduce the deficit. The minister said that it is necessary to consider the possibility of co-payment for public services, such as public health care.

“Expensive treatments should be partly paid for by patients if they have high incomes,” he said. Castells argued that co-payment will help avoid privatisation of the health care system and will guarantee its financial sustainability.