21/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Answering questions during the European Parliament's question hour on the Spanish Presidency's intentions to restore good governance in Greece, Diego Lopez Garrido spoke of the procedures foreseen in excessive deficit cases, and the possibility for the Union to show its solidarity towards states experiencing serious difficulties. He said his country had seen powerful signs of this European solidarity which is a phenomenon that is unique in the world. The Spanish secretary of state for the EU pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty stipulates that states should coordinate their economic and social policies, saying: “Some problems would not have come about if there had been a European economic policy”. Regarding the role of the ECB, he said that the bank has its mandate on financial stability and price stability, and that it carries out this mandate in a fully independent way. (L.G./transl.jl)