spending

PM Zapatero today proposed an expenditure limit for the Autonomous Communities before the Spanish Parliament . The Spokesperson for the Catalan Executive considers it an attack to self-governance and fiscal autonomy. In addition, he stressed that the Catalan Government is the only administration in Spain, at all levels, that has cut its expenditure by 10% in one year. He also asked the Spanish Government to make its own adjustments and pay what it legally owes to the Communities, and to Catalonia in particular.

Artur Mas, the newly elected Catalan president has a new plan up his sleeve. He will cut 23% of the high-ranking positions and reduce the number of political advisers. Public organisations and quangos will also be affected by this austerity measure. The government is forecasting a deficit of 7.800 million euros.

EU economic spokesman says 'fiscal discipline must be respected at all governmental levels'