EU is going to provide Portugal with bailout estimated by 80-90 billion euro on the conditions of severe budget cuts. Yet these conditions may affect the country’s economy as did those imposed on Greece and Ireland. Nouriel Roubini says that such terms are likely to prevent the problem nations from reducing their debt. Irish GDP lost 11% during 2 years, while Greece's economy contracted by 6.5% during the past year.

British newspaper The Guardian outlines for Europe 3 possible scenarios.

1. The «good news» scenario

The peripheral economies continue to shrink, though the contagion won’t spread to Spain. Spanish banking system looks rather solid, while most of the country's sovereign debt is held by Spaniards. In the wake of Portugal's crisis, interest rates investors are demanding from Spain have actually slightly declined. EU officials keep reassuring the market that Spain won’t need financial support, though it’s necessary to remember that the same was said about Portugal last year.

2. The «bad news» scenario

Spain with its slower growth and higher unemployment than in Portugal may seriously suffer from surging yields. As a result, the country may be forced to apply for the bailout. Spanish government has to pay 4.9% to sell 10-year bonds, close to the 5.5% offered by the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) for countries that have been thrown out of the financial market. In addition, Spain would probably need more than 400 billion euro. The EFSF that will exist until 2013 can raise 750 billion in total. But with Ireland and Portugal require at least 160 billion euro. Taking into account the fact that from the political point of view it’s hard to expand the rescue fund, Spanish bailout would drain the fund and Belgium or Italy may become the next weak link.

3. The «really bad news» scenario

Although Spain is unlikely to default in 2011, political protests counter the austerity measures are likely to strengthen, while Greece or Ireland may default. As a result, other peripheral nations will get under threat and there will be the risk of multiple defaults and possible rejection of the single currency.