Brussels, 02/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The chair of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, wants a special procedure to be introduced ensure respect of social rights when implementing national budget and economic policies.
He told a handful of reporters last week that a procedure could be devised along similar lines to the one to assess macroeconomic imbalances, but probably without the penalties. Swoboda said such a procedure to ensure the respect of social criteria could measure poverty levels in the member states, along with the distribution of income and access to basic social services. It could also answer concerns about the strength of social dialogue.
The new procedure for measuring excessive macroeconomic imbalances, part of the stability and growth pact, was tested for the first time this year, but no proceedings were issued (under which countries can be fined, see EUROPE 10855). The spotlight focused on Spain and Slovenia.
A eurozone hard core at the next EP? Swoboda said that, in the future, the eurozone would form the hard core of the European Union, which will impact on the EU's institutional set-up, particularly at the European Parliament. He is convinced that, when the treaty is revised, a sub-committee and a sub-plenary will be given legislative powers for issues affecting the eurozone alone. (MB/transl.fl)