Muscat pleased that EU conclusions are 'in line' with his manifesto

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today welcomed the outcome of the European Council summit and praised EU member states for approaching the discussion with balance. "Many thought there would be a big divide between austerity and more spending but there was a sense of convergence towards common sense," he told the Maltese press. He said austerity alone could not achieve economic growth but spending must be targeted to stimulate economies and create jobs. Dr Muscat also welcomed the fact that the summit's conclusions were "in line" with Labour's electoral manifesto, including the Youth Guarantee, which has been unanimously welcomed, and the focus on fighting bureaucracy. The Council commissioned a review of bureaucratic processes as would also be done in Malta through the appointment of a Commissioner for the simplification of rules, he said, adding that Malta aimed to introduce the Youth Guarantee by the end of the year or the beginning of next year.  The Prime Minister said he contributed to the discussion and ensured certain amendments to the conclusions. He was also impressed that EU leaders were "well-briefed" about the way the situation evolved in Malta. Dr Muscat said he was...