17
Jan
2024
Watch
Review of the economic governance framework (debate)
Mr President, I think ‘you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today’ pretty much sums up the core of the debate on the economic governance framework. We need to take responsibility to protect the credibility of the Union and the stability of the eurozone by agreeing on new rules that are realistic and can be and will be respected and enforced. This is why the Commission made a proposal that is more country-specific when it comes to achieving sustainable debt levels, which I welcome. This is why Parliament – in our negotiating position for which we asked for this House’s mandate today – introduces some additional flexibility to maintain room for much-needed investments in the key priorities of the Union, and I thank my rapporteur Margarida Marques and the shadows who made this possible. Now there will be those on the extreme right and the extreme left of the House that will vote against the mandate to deliver this better framework: no surprises there. What I find more regrettable is the position of the Greens: strong supporters of the Euro, but against the very rules needed to keep it strong and stable. Very much like having your cake and eating it. More regrettable also because the additional room for investments and the capacity to react to unforeseen circumstances needed so much for the green transition are part of the new framework and are part of Parliament’s mandate. Yes, ‘sustainability’ – or ‘stewardship’, as I call it as a Christian Democrat – means respecting our planet. But it also means not burdening next generations with unsustainable levels of debt. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.