What do PSD, PDL and PNL say about the European Commission intention to supervise member states' budgets? Giving up sovereignty or a necessary step?

The European Commission intends to propose in Brussels the surveillance of national budgets and rules for budget spending. How do Romanian politicians comment the measures that entail giving up sovereignty? HotNews.ro carried out a brief survey with Romanian MPs and MEPs. Opinions are split even within the same party: some consider that such a measure will not be adopted soon raise the issue of sovereignty. Others believe this is a necessary measure.

Theodor Stolojan, PD-L MEP: „I would not back this proposal, because a state and its government need to be responsible for the decision taken. At the same time, it needs to take responsibility for the public act of exercising power. For the moment, the discussion is at an early stage and I don’t believe it would get to such a proposal. If even a single member-state disagrees, the proposal will not be adopted. As for fiscal matters, national states have the decisions in their hands and this is difficult to change. On the other hand, in the current context, each member state needs to be responsible and respect the Pact.”

Anca Boagiu, PD-L senator: „The European Commission’s communiqué comes in an extremely difficult moment for the unprecedented crisis of the Euro Zone and which has been temporarily adjusted by the ECOFIN decision of creating a Fund of over 500 billion euros. It is obvious that articles of the Growth and Stability Pact were breeched for years by the EU states, although matching the budget targets entailed in this Pact would have prevented the current European economic crisis. The critics of this new approach of the European economic governance accuse the breach in the principle of national states’ sovereignty, but we must consider that, on one hand, the peer-review mechanism is practically a consultative act and, therefore, on-compulsory. On the other hand, we are living truly exceptional moments. Romania must take active part in this debate because the final decision taken by the European Council will affect our country’s budget and macroeconomic policies from now on. By introducing the European Semester principle and by sending the Convergence Programme in the beginning of the year, Romania will need to discipline more its budget policies. (…) For all reasons, the European Commission’s proposals addressing a stronger European economic governance needs to be urgently debated by the Romanian public opinion, before reaching in the European decisional forums.”

Adrian Severin, PSD MEP: „It seems like a necessary step and a solution for the European economy. In the current context of the economic crisis, with its burning issues – and here I mean the situation in Greece – it has been proven that it is absolutely necessary not only a social aid programme and setting the macro economic parameters, but also a political-budget shared administration for economic growth. Otherwise, the remaining solution is budget consolidation after the outbreak of the crisis in exchange for loans allowing t pay up public debts. It is true that a budget consolidates the state’s policy and the state’s policy is the expression of its sovereignty. But under the impact of reality, it is the case to rethink sovereignty, which cannot be exercised like in the past century, but jointly, because we can only grow this way. It is good to get out of the XIX century’s myth and sovereign prejudices and to understand that the only solution is a joint sovereignty with the other European states. In the present context, what used to be unacceptable becomes unavoidable, and those disagreeing have either not felt the crises, have either not been subjected to it.”

Titus Corlatean, PSD senator: „The fiscal policy is a national policy and regards each state individually. It’s true that in the context of crisis and in regards to the situation in Greece the EU member states need to receive increasing attention and a more strict European politics. But front this point to interfering with the act of governance in each state is a long way, which, in my opinion, will face a solid resistance. Solutions and measures regarding the European fiscal issues must be sought, but personally, I doubt such a proposal would be accepted. I don’t believe the national states and parliaments’ sovereign right must be given away, but there must be tough decision o check them.”

Norica Nicolai, PNL MEP: „As far as I’m aware, this proposal is correct, especially for the countries in the euro zone, which enjoy the financial support mechanism. In the Lisbon Treaty, article 122 entails these exceptional situations and can be meet the European legislation. As long as the European countries enjoy a financial support, it is normal to have a control mechanism for the way they handle money. And it is natural for those in the European Commission to come up with such a proposal.”

Daniel Budurescu, PNL deputy: As Romanian, I am not, theoretically, in agreement with such an intention coming from the European Commission, but analysing Romania’s current situation, which, after 20 years, it failed to reform itself, bout managed to collapse, I would consider such a measure. But we need to wait and see if this proposal is accepted and if the other member-states accept, bearing in mind that other member-states risk losing sovereignty. The European Commission ideas are probably ripped, in a manner of speaking, and at the moment of making such proposals there is probably a basis as well. We need to wait.”

Mihai Voicu, PNL deputy: „With the way money is spend on acquisitions and contracts, maybe Romania could need such a control over he crisis period. I cannot tell you more because I don’t know the information you are talking about. I will research it.

The president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso declared on Wednesday that it intends to propose the surveillance of national budgets. „In the past months we have been working on a new mechanism of crisis management and last week we adopted this stability mechanism and we took responsibility for extra measures (…). We propose national budgets surveillance and we will compel the member states to grow their deposits in god times, when there is not the case of fiscal discipline, to offer security in hard times. We will impose new rules regarding the budget deficit and budget spending”.