Getting there as previously discussed:

Germany signals shift on 2.3 trillion redemption fund for Europoe

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

June 13 (Telegraph) — The German government has begun opening the door to shared debts for the first time in a profound change of policy, agreeing to explore proposals for a €2.3 trillion (£1.9 trillion) stabilization fund in order to stop the eurozone’s crisis escalating out of control.

Mr Merkel rejected the Redemption Pact last November as “totally impossible”, even though it was drafted by Germany’s Council of Economic Experts or Five Wise Men and is widely-viewed as the only viable route out of the current impasse. Photo: Alamy

Officials in Berlin say privately that Chancellor Angela Merkel is willing to drop her vehement opposition to plans for a “European Redemption Pact”, a “sinking fund” that would pay down excess sovereign debt in the eurozone.

“It is conceivable so long as there is proper supervision of tax revenues,” said a source in the Chancellor’s office. The official warned that there would be no “master plan” or major break-through at the EU summit later this month.

Mr Merkel rejected the Redemption Pact last November as “totally impossible”, even though it was drafted by Germany’s Council of Economic Experts or Five Wise Men and is widely-viewed as the only viable route out of the current impasse.

Fast-moving events may have forced her hand. She is under immense pressure from the US, China, Britain, and Latin Europe to change course as the crisis engulfs Spain and Italy, threatening a global cataclysm.

Another hint the austerity induced deficit may have gotten large enough to stabilize things and promote a bit of growth.

U.K. Economy Barely Grew In Quarter Through May, Niesr Estimates

By Svenja O’Donnell

June 12 (Bloomberg) — The U.K. economy barely grew in the quarter through May after contracting in the previous three months, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

Gross domestic product grew 0.1 percent in the period, after declining at the same rate in the three months through April, Niesr, whose clients include the Bank of England and the U.K. Treasury, said in an e-mailed statement in London today.

Data today showed U.K. manufacturing fell more than economists forecast in April, while industrial production was unchanged, pointing to continued weakness in the economy at the start of the second quarter. Britain has slipped back into recession and Bank of England policy makers have warned of threats to the economy from the euro-area crisis.

“Economic activity remains very weak,” the institute said. “We expect the U.K. economy to remain broadly ‘flat’ over the next six months.”

The U.K. economy is forecast to recover in 2013, Niesr said, though “significant downside risks persist.”

If this holds, as previously discussed, some growth can return, albeit from currently depressed levels, as the austerity pushed down GDP and pushed up the deficit to the point where the deficit becomes sufficiently large to support things.

Monti Rules Out More Austerity Measures for Italy

June 13 (Bloomberg) — Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti’s government is not planning to adopt further austerity measures going forward, Pierferdinando Casini, the leader of the Union of Centrists party, told reporters in Rome today.

Casini, together with Pier Luigi Bersani and Angelino Alfano, the leaders of the Democratic Party and of the People of Liberty party respectively, met with Monti last night to discuss the European economic crisis. The three leaders pledged to back the government’s reforms that are now in parliament, according to a statement from Monti’s office.

“Nor the parties, nor the government are willing to plan a further budget adjustment although the situation has become very negative” also in light of the earthquake, which “will be a blow for public finances,” Casini said.