Brussels, 03/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - President Prodi used his intervention at the EP on the IGC and the European Council of Brussels (see p 3) to express his ideas on Ecofin's decision to no impose sanctions on France and Germany, despite the countries having failed to respect the Stability Pact. From a procedural point of view, the affair is serious, as the Council "decided to follow an entirely intergovernmental route". Mr Prodi insisted that his basic criticism as that "they should use shortcuts when the norms of the treaty and pact, agreed to at unanimity, become severe or a little uncomfortable". Mr Prodi hopes, in this case, as in other European crises, that the result is the search for "more innovative and lasting solutions" and is therefore calling for lessons to be learned: for the immediate term. Mr Prodi is sure that Member States will understand that it is necessary to apply the rules in an organised way; for the future. He believes that they should enter a new phase of consolidation and management of what they have achieved and adapt to the new situation but always in a way that is strong and valid for all. According to Mr Prodi, Ecofin's decision demonstrate that the real problem has still not been settled, which is the actual weakness of the current system of economic governance at a European level. Mr Prodi announced that the challenge was to sort out this problem by looking forward but after a sufficient period of reflection and prepare for an initiative in this sense. This will, according to Prodi, require further debate on budgetary policy and to link budgetary polices together more with the more general objective of increasing the potential for growth, without compromising on long term financial sustainability.