Brussels, 19/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Alexander Radwan, the CSU's spokesperson for economy policy at the European Parliament, has reacted to the President of the EP's Economic and Monetary Committee, Germany Social Democrat Christa Randzio-Plath's draft report on the development of new perspectives for Economic and Monetary Union by slamming its "backward socialist ideas".
The draft resolution (report) will be presented for adoption at the next meeting of the Committee on 27 August. It calls for amendments to the Community Treaties concerning economic and social issues which require better democratic control in order to enhance the legitimacy of Community action and provide greater visibility for European Union citizens, argues Christa Randzio-Plath. The report says that in Treaty Article 99, paragraph 2, the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines should be adopted by the Council together with the European Parliament, based on a proposal from the Commission, the only institution able to express the EU's common interest. In terms of competition (Treaty Articles 81 to 85), the report notes that the Commission cannot be the only actor and both draw up legislation and ensure its respect, calling for application of the codecision procedure to the adopting of general regulations. According to the resolution, the important contribution made by services of general interest to the European economy and to social cohesion should also be recognised that in Treaty Articles 3 to 16.
Radwan says the document gives the impression that Europe can only be saved by centralized multiannual plans, but what is needed is more market and less state. He said that considerable dangers to the stability of the single currency were lurking in the draft report, particularly paragraph 5 of the draft resolution highlighting that promoting public and private investment, price stability and budgetary discipline are essential disciplines while taking into account the quality of the deficit and debt. He said it was dangerous and irresponsible to distinguish between economic and structural deficits, thus challenging the Stability Pact, added Radwan, also criticising the idea recommended in paragraph 6 of the report to add the Open Coordination Method to the European Treaties, which he sees as an attack on the EP's legislative powers. He supported the idea, however, of calling in the future for the legislative aspects of competition policy to be subject to democratic control.