Rösler visits European neighbours to discuss key European issues
Philipp Rösler, Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, is visiting five neighbouring European countries between 14 and 24 August. His travels are taking him to high-level meetings in Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia. The aim is to engage in intensive discussions with the governments of these countries about current developments in the eurozone, aspects of the single market, and energy policy.
Minister Rösler commented: "We can only achieve stability in the eurozone if we act together. I would mainly like to take the opportunity to share experience and views on this key European issue, and to call for a union of stability with a strong eurozone and for a competitive Europe."
The first destination is Estonia on 14 August, where Minister Rösler will be holding talks in Tallinn with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Economic Affairs Minister Juhan Parts. He will then continue straight on to Helsinki to meet with Finland's Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Economic Affairs Minister Jyri Häkämies.
On 16 August, talks are scheduled in the Netherlands with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen. That same evening, Minister Rösler will fly on to Poland, where he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Economy Waldemar Pawlak and Poland's Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski. The tour of neighbouring countries will be rounded off by discussions with Prime Minister Robert Fico and Economy Minister Tomá¨ Malatinský in Slovakia on 24 August.
Additional information about the economic and fiscal policies of these neighbouring countries and about their economic situation:
At just under 8%, Estonia's economy achieved the strongest GDP growth of all EU27 countries in 2011. The country's public-sector borrowing rate of 6% is the lowest figure in the eurozone.
Finland, which has been a member of the European currency union from the outset, is one of the member states with an exemplary and sustainable budgetary policy. Thanks to its reforms, Finland's economy has achieved an impressive structural shift - from primary industry to a knowledge-based economy.Today, Finland is an anchor of stability in the eurozone.
The Netherlands is pursuing a comprehensive policy of stabilisation with thorough budget consolidation and improvements in competitiveness. With a highly diversified economic structure, investments in innovative forward-looking technologies (environment and energy) and highly skilled workers, the Netherlands disposes of the necessary tools for sustainable growth in Europe.
Since acceding to the EU, Poland is the only member state to have recorded constantly positive growth rates, even during the crisis year of 2009. The country is pursuing a course of budget consolidation, has a debt brake, and its government debt is below 60% of GDP. Whilst Poland still has its own currency, it has a major economic interest in stabilisation of the eurozone and institutional consolidation. Also, the Polish Government is especially interested in ensuring that the institutional gap between the euro and non-euro countries does not widen.
Slovakia, which has the highest forecast for growth in the eurozone in 2013, at almost 3%, is facing the challenge of cutting its budget deficit. This target is to be achieved by cutting spending on public employees and raising taxes. Since 2011, the highest debt level permitted in Slovakia has been 50%.