National Plans
National plans are often close to 1.2 percentage points of GDP, as recommended by the European Commission, and are focused on 2008 and 2009. However, Germany and Spain have announced fiscal stimulus of respectively 3.3% (two plans altogether) and 3.7% of their GDP.
The plan announced by the European Commission at the end of November recommended measures to revive the economy but did not specify much the nature of the plans. Some plans are focused on the stimulation of demand (United Kingdom, to a lesser extent Spain, Italy or the second German plan), other plans insist more in incentives to supply (French plan, first German plan ).
Measures took on expenditure to improve demand generally include measures to support medium-term growth through increased public spending on infrastructures (road networks and railway) and aids to the housing sector (notably construction and renovation). Several countries have also announced short-term measures to relieve the effects of the crisis on the poorest people (increase in benefits and allowances to households with low incomes and unemployed). However, these aids have often limited effects on the economy, because their amounts are insignificant.
Other measures affected national taxation systems. The UK was the only country that opted for a temporary decline in the standard VAT rate, by 2.5 percentage points. In Germany, employer contributions were lowered. Most plans include incentive measures to SMEs and development of green energy.
| Country | Date | Type | Amount in billion euros (% of GDP) | Measures | |
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| Germany | November 2008 | first plan | 32 (1.3%) | 82 (3.3%) |
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| January 2009 | second plan | 50 (2%) |
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| France | December 2008 | stimulus plan | 26 (1.3%) |
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| Spain | April 2008 | election pledges | 20 bn (1%) | 40 (3.7%) |
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| August 2008 | first plan | 20 |
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| November 2008 | second plan | 10.9 |
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| Italy | May 2008 | election pledges | 9 (0.6%) |
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| November 2008 | anti-crisis plan |
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| Netherlands | September 2008 | budget bill | 2.5 (0.4%) | 8.5 (1.4%) |
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| November 2008 | stimulus plan | 6 (1%) |
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| United Kingdom | September 2008 | urgency measures | £1 billion | £31 bn (2.2%) |
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| November 2008 | stimulus plan | £20 billion |
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| January 2009 | additional measures | £10 billion |
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Read more about this topic: 2008 European Union Stimulus Plan
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