12 December 2013

Plenary Session: European Central Bank - "Independence without democratic scrutiny is dangerous"

ECB's role in the troika questioned

Marisa Matias, a Portuguese member of the GUE/NGL group, is convinced that the ECB has exceeded its tasks while participating in the troika: "The ECB directly interferes in fiscal and economic policies in bailout countries and is a key actor in fiscal consolidation policies… This intervention has a huge impact on the options available for the affected Member States to stimulate employment and growth."

According to Gianni Pittella, who is reponsible for drafting the EP's recommendations on the ECB's 2012 annual report, a new system for managing bailouts is needed in which the ECB plays an advisory and not a political role. The Italian member of the S&D group explained: “The troika is unaccountable and is doing a bad job by carrying out harsh austerity measures that hit the weakest and exacerbate debt problems". Mr Pitttella added that the report approved by the EP's economic committee calls for the troika to be replaced by “a system where the Commission is put at the heart of the mechanism and is accountable to Parliament".

Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz, a Hungarian member of the EPP group, pointed out that the successful economic recovery of bailout countries is important because it also greatly affects the euro and this explains why the ECB has to be involved. “Besides financial assistance, austerity and well-managed budget discipline are also needed to get countries out of the crisis", she said.

Accountability and independence

All three insist there is no contradiction between preserving the ECB's independence and the need to hold it to account. Mr Pittella said: “The ECB is independent, no one wants to undermine this. But independence without democratic scrutiny is dangerous. We do not want the ECB to become a sort of benevolent tyrant.”

Both Mr Pittella and Ms Gáll-Pelcz call for more disclosure of the discussions in the ECB's governing council. Ms Matias said: “The main problem is that the ECB is not subject to democratic control as it should be".

Ms Gáll-Pelcz also highlighted the different roles the ECB plays in safeguarding monetary stability, in taking part in the troika, and soon in the EU Banking Union. “Each role of the ECB must be separated carefully and clearly", she pointed out.

Responding during the debate, Mr Draghi said that the ECB could do many things, but it could not take on the essential roles of governments or banks. On Banking Union, and more particularly the single resolution mechanism for winding down banks, Mr Draghi warned against developing an “intergovernmental structure”, which could become politicised and hence unable to work fast enough.

Press release

ECON-press release

ECB/Draghi's speech at the hearing

Speech by VP Rehn at the European Parliament debate on the 2012 European Central Bank annual report

EPP-Group: The ECB-is a cornerstone of Europe’s stability

S&D: "The European Central Bank should do more to stimulate the European economy", says Gianni Pittella

© European Parliament