Brussels, 09/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is supporting a limited revision of the Treaty in order to create the permanent European stability mechanism (ESM), which will be operational from the middle of 2013. Nonetheless, it wants guarantees from member states that the intergovernmental approach used on this occasion for setting up this new rescue fund (given the urgency of the situation) is not the beginning of the dismantling of the Community method. The creation of such a mechanism outside Community structures should remain the exception and not become the rule, insisted the committee on constitutional affairs (AFCO). On 7 March AFCO called for the ESM “to be integrated into the European Union framework”. MEPs were aware that this demand would not be met for political and timetable reasons (the urgent need for setting up a fund to reassure financial markets) but they did, nonetheless, call for the possibility of integrating the ESM into the EU structure at a later date. They are also demanding a clear commitment from the European Council, guaranteeing that operational characteristics contained in the mechanism, in addition to conditions (a rigorous economic and fiscal adjustment programme) will be determined on the basis of a recommendation by the Commission, following consultation with the Parliament. MEPs also want assurances that the Commission will be in charge of mechanism implementation and follow-up. AFCO additionally says that the Commission should be responsible for ensuring the running of the EMS permanent secretariat. It is on the basis of these demands that the two co- rapporteurs, Elmar Brok (EPP) and Roberto Gualtieri (S&D), are currently pursuing negotiations with the member states. The EP opinion on revision of the Treaty will only be voted on in the plenary on 24 March, namely the very day that the European Council (24-25 March) is expected to approve the amendment of the Treaty.
During a debate on the question during a plenary session on Wednesday 9 March, Brok and Gualtieri repeated their appeal to integrate the ESM into Community structures. Brok considers that within the EU, the intergovernmental approach should still be reserved for the “avant-garde”, which wants to push European integration forward. He pointed out that the Community method has always been “better and more efficient”. Gualtieri said that in the ESM should not be, “the first stone of a building being constructed outside the EU but rather a carriage that would soon be attached to the Community train”. German Green, Gerald Häfner, stated that “we want the permanent stability mechanism but not at the price of European democracy and the Community method”. Søren Søndergaard (GUE/NGL, Denmark) pointed out that the Lisbon Treaty had been “sold” to citizens on the argument that it would be permanent and would give the EP more influence. He was critical that “citizens have not only not been involved in the debate on the creation of the ESM but the proposed change to the Treaty would mean that major decisions can be taken at an EU level without the EP”. (H.B./transl.fl)