government promised to reform the pension system and a costly program of state subsidies for energy and staples, according to a letter published on the IMF website this week. Morocco's state spending is at record highs, the deficit is soaring and its No. 1 trading partner - Europe - is flailing. The latest economic figures show that Europe is edging closer to recession, dragged down by the crippling debt problems of the 17 countries that use the euro. Europe's stumbling economy is making it harder for other economies around the world to recover and policymakers are trying to reach agreement on more decisive action to deal with the debt crisis. 13.05 Another European minister has spoken out in favour of keeping the eurozone together. Dutch finance minister , Jan Kees de Jager, said the focus of the Netherlands and the euro zone was to keep the single currency area together. He said: We never speculate about an exit from, or the break-up of the euro zone. The euro zone is very important for the Netherlands. We've benefited a lot from Europe and the single market. 12.51 AFP is reporting that Spain's government will shortly request a first payment for its banks from a eurozone rescue line. A spokesman for the economy ministry told AFP that "the request will be sent shortly", but declined to specify the exact amount or timing for the request, which is to be made by the Bank of Spain. 12.34 At 10.58, we mentioned that comment