BRATISLAVA, September 28, (WEBNOVINY) — MEP for the opposition SMER-SD party Vladimir Manka says that EU countries which forge the data on their economies should be punished. “The European Parliament wants to prevent eurozone members from ignoring calls of the European Commission to improve their fiscal policies and provide for faster implementation of economic consolidation measures. We want to strengthen the responsibility of member states’ governments for adopted decisions and also to increase the quality and precision of statistical data,” Manka told SITA news agency on Wednesday. According to him, the European Commission should have the right to audit member states and the possibility of finance ministers’ hearings at the European Parliament should also be introduced.
Manka also thinks that the negotiating possibilities of member states should be limited when they strive to avoid warnings from the European Commission and eventual sanctions for exceeding the permitted budget deficit set by the Stability and Growth Pact. “There should be a rule that the European Commission could adopt a decision which will no longer have to be confirmed by member states at the EU Council. Canceling the decision would only be possible subsequently and only in case that the member state would be able to convince most eurozone member states that the sanctions are not justified,” stated Manka.
SITA