A round-up of public finance articles from Europe you might have missed this week (September 23-27).

Greek minister: we will give the money back to Germany

Greece's health minister, Adonis Georgiadis, has told BBC Hardtalk that after three years of strong austerity measures Greek society ‘cannot tolerate it any more’. He also said that ‘Angela Merkel and the German people are great friends of Greece’, adding ‘we will give the money back to the Germans when we can.’ (BBC)

EU balks at rule change that could ease austerity

Senior European Union finance officials have declined to back a change in budget policies that could have lightened the burden of austerity on Spain and other countries hit hard by the crisis, an EU official said. (Wall Street Journal)

Ireland sees biggest services growth in EU but the largest drop in industry and construction

Ireland experienced the biggest growth in the services industry in the last decade in the EU, balanced by the biggest decrease in industry, construction and agriculture as a share of GDP. (Irish Examiner)

Why do the French tolerate such high taxes?

Analysis: The French tax bill is now wearing holes in the pockets of not just the rich but the rest, too. Why do the French put up with paying so much tax? (The Economist)

Debt-wracked nations could learn from Norway, prime minister says

Debt-laden European nations, the United States, and resource-rich developing countries could all learn from Norway's tight-fisted spending habits and oil wealth management, the Scandinavian nation's outgoing prime minister said on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Italy turns to private companies to preserve artistic heritage, boost economy

Villa Tolomei Hotel & Resort, once an abandoned convent in ruins, is now a luxury resort on the outskirts of Florence and a testament to what Italy can accomplish when the public and private sectors work together. (NBC)