28/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of a conference on EMU and economic governance, in Brussels on Tuesday, President Prodi recalled that he and former European Commissioner Pedro Solbes had already floated ideas, in November 2002, for improving implementation of the Stability Pact but that "the time was not yet ripe". At present, suggestions by Commissioner Joaquim Almunia are on the table and a President of the Eurogroup has been designated to the euro zone an "all too necessary political voice", Romano Prodi commented. He stressed not only the responsibility of Member States for implementing the Pact but also the European Commission's "steering role". Mr Prodi also recalled the importance of having good budgetary statistics. Recent events prove this, he said, without explicitly citing the Greek affair (see EUROPE of 24 September, p.9).