Brussels, 07/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - In Berlin on Friday 7 October, the chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, called for a new European commissioner for the single currency (see preceding article).
Angela Merkel a said the idea of introducing a new European commissioner, mooted early last month by the Netherlands, was very interesting. The commissioner would have the power to ensure countries respected the Stability and Growth Pact. At a joint press conference with Rutte, Merkel said that Germany backed the idea.
AFP reports that Merkel said that it was time for forward thinking in this direction because the stronger Stability and Growth Pact marks huge progress but does not have enough teeth to intervene when countries persist in breaking the rules. She said a euro commissioner would have the job of ensuring budget discipline was applied throughout the eurozone, which is an area highly varied in nature and in crisis due to sovereign debt. (LC/transl.fl)