Brussels, 04/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On economic issues, MEPs hostile to dominant ideas, whether they be anti-liberal, separatist or europhobic - are currently more vocal than in the previous European Parliament.
Bar a few nuances, the traditionally pro-European political groups (EPP, S&D, ALDE and Greens/EFA) that can form a stable majority on most economic issues made little comment on the draft report on the European Semester budget process unveiled by Philippe De Backer (ALDE, Belgium) on Wednesday 3 September at the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee (see EUROPE 11145). Stressing the importance of structural reforms, Dariusz Rosati (EPP, Poland) talked about the “big problem” of ownership and implementation of the country-specific recommendations on social and economic policy issued by the European summit to the member states. Tibor Szanyi (S&D, Hungary) did not see any real problems with the draft report, and highlighted the concept of “solidarity” and tackling tax fraud and tax evasion. His French counterpart Pervenche Berès, however, said the report could not be written without speaking about the current economic situation in the European Union.
The large number of MEPs who are hostile to interference from the EU in national affairs do not necessarily agree with one another but lined up to attack the draft report. Sampo Terho (ECR, Finland) said any political choices have to be made by national parliaments, not the European Commission. Criticising the report for making a false analysis, Steven Woolfe (EFDD, United Kingdom) said that the only level where action could be taken was that of the nation state. He said the rapporteur's hope for foreign representation of the euro was dangerous because it would mean the end of national sovereignty. Bernard Monot (non-attached, France) said the report smashes open doors when it calls for growth and jobs. The Front National MEP disagreed with the idea that immigration would encourage economic growth, stating that less than 15% of the immigrant population in France is in work.
Pleased with support from most of the political groups, De Backer drove home that a money-printing machine could not be used to get out of crisis and anyone moving away from that reality would have to be accountable for it (referring the ECB's comments on the importance of structural reforms). The report will be voted upon at the economic and monetary affairs committee on 7 October and adopted by the EP in the second plenary of in October. (MB)