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| Greece to face economic scrutiny | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Greece will face the most stringent monitoring of any European Union country as it attempts to balance its finances over the next few years. | |
| The news came as the European Commission confirmed its support of Greece's plans to reduce its deficit. | |
| EU economic commissioner Joaquín Almunia also launched an infringement procedure to ensure Greek authorities report reliable budgetary statistics. | |
| Greece's deficit is more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. | Greece's deficit is more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. |
| ANALYSIS Jonny Dymond, BBC Europe correspondent | |
| The concern in Brussels is not just that Greece might need to be bailed out, but also that financial markets' nervousness about Greece might spread to other euro-economies in trouble. | |
| So the commission is recommending acceptance of Greece's plan to cut its deficit - but also the most extensive intrusion into a member state's economy that the EU has known. | |
| Few in Brussels appear to believe that the Greek government will hold to its promises to slash the deficit unless it is being pushed hard by euro partners. | |
| And after long years of dodgy statistics from the Greek authorities, the EU is insisting on a direct role in the monitoring of Greece's recovery plan. | |
| Progress reviews | Progress reviews |
| Mr Almunia welcomed the additional fiscal measures taken by Greece. | |
| He said: "We consider that the programme is ambitious, and that the programme in terms of targets is achievable. | |
| "We are endorsing the Greek programme. But at the same time we know that the implementation of the programme is not easy. It is difficult. This deserves support." | "We are endorsing the Greek programme. But at the same time we know that the implementation of the programme is not easy. It is difficult. This deserves support." |
| However, Mr Almunia acknowledged that tackling the debt was difficult politically and complex technically. | However, Mr Almunia acknowledged that tackling the debt was difficult politically and complex technically. |
| He said that EU officials would monitor carefully the efforts of the Greek programme and would demand extra action if it was not on track to meet the deficit goals. | He said that EU officials would monitor carefully the efforts of the Greek programme and would demand extra action if it was not on track to meet the deficit goals. |
| EU economic ministers will next meet on 16 February. Provided they accept the commission's recommendations, new deadlines will be set for Greece to review progress with officials. | EU economic ministers will next meet on 16 February. Provided they accept the commission's recommendations, new deadlines will be set for Greece to review progress with officials. |
| It will have to submit a first report on 16 March, with a second deadline on 16 May. | It will have to submit a first report on 16 March, with a second deadline on 16 May. |
| Nigel Cassidy, the BBC's Europe business reporter, said the reliability of Greece's budgetary statistics was a long-standing issue. | Nigel Cassidy, the BBC's Europe business reporter, said the reliability of Greece's budgetary statistics was a long-standing issue. |
| "This was the problem before. Everybody here in Brussels knew Greece was not being very honest with its economic figures but nobody did anything about it," he said. | "This was the problem before. Everybody here in Brussels knew Greece was not being very honest with its economic figures but nobody did anything about it," he said. |
| Fear of contagion | Fear of contagion |
| Greece is struggling with its worst economic crisis since joining the euro in 2001. | Greece is struggling with its worst economic crisis since joining the euro in 2001. |
| It has one of the smaller economies in the European Union, but it is being watched closely because of the doubts financial markets have in it. | It has one of the smaller economies in the European Union, but it is being watched closely because of the doubts financial markets have in it. |
| Its long-term deficit cutting plan aims to reduce the budget shortfall, currently 12.7%, to less than 3% by 2012, but many people in Brussels and beyond remain sceptical. | Its long-term deficit cutting plan aims to reduce the budget shortfall, currently 12.7%, to less than 3% by 2012, but many people in Brussels and beyond remain sceptical. |
| There are other bigger economies in the eurozone that face the same deficit problems and the fear of contagion is high. | There are other bigger economies in the eurozone that face the same deficit problems and the fear of contagion is high. |
| Prime Minister George Papandreou has urged the public to support his programme of tough austerity measures, which includes increases on fuel duty and a public sector pay freeze. | |
| However, public sector workers are planning a strike next week. | |
| Are you in Greece? What is your reaction to the planned austerity measures? Do you support the programme? Do you work in the public sector? Will the cuts affect you? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in Greece? What is your reaction to the planned austerity measures? Do you support the programme? Do you work in the public sector? Will the cuts affect you? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |