歐盟領導人舉行峯會討論債務危機

Leaders of the 27 nations that make up the European Union will gather in Brussels Wednesday for a summit aimed at solving the bloc's debt crisis.

The bloc's focus has shifted from austerity to pro-growth policies since the election of Socialist Francois Hollande as president of France and the political stalemate in Greece, where voters rejected the political parties that agreed to severe budget cuts in exchange for a financial bailout package.

Mr. Hollande's influence is at odds with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has led the austerity drive since the debt crisis began.

On the eve of the summit, the European Parliament agreed to a pilot program that would use nearly $300 billion of so-called project bonds in 2012 and 2013 to finance about $5.8 billion of investment projects.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy says no idea is "taboo" (( unacceptable )) for Wednesday's forum, and that long-term solutions should be explored. Among the ideas expected to be raised are issuing so-called eurobonds, under which wealthier European nations would guarantee the borrowing costs of financially struggling nations. Ms. Merkel is adamantly opposed to eurobonds, a stance shared by Finland, The Netherlands and Austria.

Leaders at the summit may also consider assisting large and troubled European banks like those in Spain that are struggling during the economic crisis.

But no major decisions are expected to be made until another summit in late June, shortly after Greece holds a new round of elections.歐盟27個成員國領導人星期三在布魯塞爾舉行會議，討論如何解決歐盟債務危機。

自從法國社會黨的奧朗德當選總統，以及希臘選民不支持那些同意大幅削減預算以換取財政救援的政黨而形成政治僵局後，歐盟現在政策的重點已經從緊縮開支向促進增長轉變。

奧朗德的主張和德國總理默克爾相牴觸。自從歐債危機爆發以來，默克爾一直在推動緊縮開支的政策。

在這次峯會召開前夕，歐洲議會同意一項試行計劃，這項計劃將在2012年和2013年動用將近3千億美元的所謂的項目債券，來資助大約58億美元的投資計劃。

歐盟理事會主席範龍佩表示，在星期三的會議上，沒有建議是不可接受的，而且應該研究長期的解決辦法。預料會提出的建議之一是，發行所謂的歐洲債券。按照這項計劃，歐洲的富裕國家將保證財政困難國家的借貸成本。德國總理默克爾堅決反對發行歐洲債券，她的立場得到芬蘭、荷蘭和奧地利的支持。

峯會領導人還可能考慮援助陷入困境的歐洲大銀行，例如在經濟危機中陷入困境的西班牙銀行。

但是在下一次於6月底再次舉行峯會前，也就是希臘剛剛舉行新一輪選舉後不久，不會做出重要決定。