Strasbourg, 01/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - The head of the Christian Democrat group at the European Parliament, Manfred Weber of Germany, said on 2 July on the fringes of the opening ceremony for the new European Parliament that the EPP would “block” any change to stability and growth pact rules.
He said that, if debt led to growth and jobs, then there would already be full employment in Europe and one cannot ignore the lessons of the crisis. He criticised big countries like Italy and France for demanding the use of flexibility under the SGP, saying that the rules did not apply only to small countries that force sacrifices on their citizens. Weber said it was unfortunate that France and Italy had to be reminded of their duty and there was no place for double standards in the way EU budget rules apply. Weber said that France keeps announcing things but dragging its feet when it comes to practice.
The president of the European Parliament, German Social Democrat Martin Schulz, said that it was possible to make use of flexibility under the SGP as suggested by the heads of state (see EUROPE 11110). The conclusions document of the European summit on 26 and 27 June state that the EU28 shall continue to apply the SGP and will not call for changes to European rules, but do pave the way for making better use in future of the “flexibility” that is already available. Schulz said that a broad majority at the European Parliament would agree with this interpretation. (EL)