Spanish government cuts Catalan budget by €780m
Madrid argues that the measures don't only affect Catalonia, while Catalan administration stresses that Spain’s arguments “make no sense”
Madrid argues that the measures don't only affect Catalonia, while Catalan administration stresses that Spain’s arguments “make no sense”
The Catalan minister for the Economy, Andreu Mas-Colell, said in an interview that he will ask to speak directly to Brussels if Madrid decides to intervene in Catalonia’s finances. The minister is very disappointed with the results of a meeting between the 17 autonomous communities and the Spanish Minister Cristóbal Montoro. At the summit, Montoro announced a new cut in the regional deficit targets, from 1,1% to 0,5% for 2013 and from 1% to only 0,1% the year after. This could imply a new adjustment of about €650 million on top of the 1,500 million already announced by Catalan President Artur Mas only two months ago. The Catalan government spokesman, Francesc Homs, did not deny the possibility of new cuts in Catalonia in the near future. If they are confirmed, those would be the fourth round of spending cuts implemented in the country since Mas entered office in November 2010. Meanwhile, other autonomous communities still have to start to reduce spending.