Today's front pages

The quote comes from Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, Spain's deputy prime minister, describing her government's 2013 Finance Bill. In order to reduce the public deficit to 4.5% of GDP, the state will slash €14 billion off spending and seek to raise €15 billion in revenue. Pensions and student grants will be raised, however.

“A budget to exit the crisis” – ABC

France's 2013 Finance Bill is to be presented this September 28 to the Council of Ministers. A €40 billion “effort” is budgeted, two-thirds of which will come in the form taxes, targeting the wealthy. Income tax "will be much more gradual," the Paris financial daily notes.

Hollande imposes tax shock on wealthiest – Les Echos

The Polish government has approved “a difficult” budget for next year. In 2013, austerity measures, including higher taxes and elimination of remaining tax breaks, is to affect more than ten million people while Poles on average will have to contribute 400 zlotys more (€250) to the state budget, estimates the Warsaw daily.

Budget will tighten our belts – Rzeczpospolita

After a week of negociations, Greece's ruling coalition partners have reached agreement on most of the €12 billion package required to receive a new tranche of international aid. At the 18 October summit, Athens will ask its European partners to allow it to postpone implementation.

Solution package of measures, tranche and postponement – To Ethnos

According to a recent study, Bulgaria's excessive dependence on EU funds is bad for the economy. Of the 1.7% growth registered in 2011, 1.5% came from EU subsidies. The Sofia news magazine notes that “the money comes via the state and introduces distortions in the market, it undermines company competitivity and concentrates enormous power in the hands of the state.”

False comfort of EU money – Kapital

“[Slovak Agriculture] Minister L’ubomir Jahnátek initially saw no reason to impose a ban on sales of Czech spirits and now he sees no reason to lift it,” reports SME. As late as September 17, the minister said a ban was not necessary, despite the death of 26 people in the Czech Republic due to consumption of adulterated liquor. A day after the Czech Republic lifted its own ban, the minister has decided to maintain prohibition on Czech made spirits in Slovakia’s bars and shops until Czech authorities “find the last litre” of adulterated alcohol.

Government doesn’t want Czech alcohol – SME

Before a parliamentary committee of inquiry into a number of corruption and embezzlement scandals, witnesses have spoken out against Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann. Faymann is accused of currying favours from the Austrian tabloid press with the purchase of advertising space by state-linked organizations in 2007-2008, when he was transport minister. Among others, Austrian Railways (ÖBB) paid up to €10 million in advertising. Faymann denies the charge.

ÖBB witnesses incriminate Faymann – Die Presse