Economisch beleidspakket: Europarlement discussieert over aanpassingen (en)

Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee MEPs on Tuesday held their first public discussion of the EU economic governance legislative package, to be hammered out by Parliament and EU Member States by the end of June. Almost 2,000 amendments have been tabled, but significant support emerged for integrating European Economic Semester economic policy co-ordination plans, and also parts of the Pact for the Euro, into the package.

The discussion suggested that compromises were emerging on various issues, but also that the political groups still differ, primarily on the nature of sanctions and the rate at which excessive debt should be reduced per year.

On Monday, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet i told the committee that he was relying very much on the European Parliament's influence to improve this legislation, since Member States still had some way to go before their position would be acceptable to the ECB.

Discussion within Parliament on proposals for compromise amendments will go on at a frenetic pace over the next six weeks, to enable the committee to vote on them by the end of April.  MEPs will then enter into negotiations with Member States in a bid to strike a deal.

In the chair: Sharon BOWLES i (ALDE, UK)