05 September 2014

Dijsselbloem calls for fiscal measures and flexibility to combat crisis at ECON cttee

Many MEPs cited ECB President Mario Draghi's Jackson Hole speech of last week, in which he hinted at the need for more flexibility in implementing the Stability and Growth Pact. This speech “raised a great deal of dust” noted Burhard Balz (EPP, DE). Mr Dijsselbloem replied that "Flexibility should be used without damaging credibility. It does not mean that ‘anything goes’. Flexibility can be applied in combination with structural reforms and this will be debated in October and November, when EU member states’ national draft budgets are discussed with the Commission."

Udo Bullman (S&D, DE) argued that the significance of Mr Draghi's speech was that "investment no longer seems to be forbidden". Mr Dijsselbloem replied “We need a policy mix, put together by bankers and politicians. The ECB took measures in June, but implementation takes time. The banking union is crucial for investments, but we need some impetus from the public side too. We are also looking forward to discussing the €300 billion investment package Jean Claude Juncker announced.

Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (ALDE, NL ) said talk about “quantitative easing” made her nervous. "In the labour field, we have the expression 'flexicurity'. Don't you agree that we should do more on the security side, since many countries do not comply with country-specific recommendations or the Growth and Stability Pact?" Mr Dijsselbloem replied that "Flexibility is built in for good reasons and can be useful in specific circumstances. But there are conditions to be met, mostly in the form of structural reforms."

Fabio de Masi (GUE/NGL, DE) argued that recovery measures are failing completely. He asked about the independence of the ECB, referring to an alleged phone conversation between Chancellor Merkel and Mr Draghi about pursuing austerity policy. Mr Dijsselbloem replied that "I don't know, because I was not there. The ECB proved to be a strong independent bank."

Phillippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, BE) said reforms had led to more poverty. "With a socialist like Mr Dijsselbloem, who needs conservatives?" he asked. Replying to Mr Dijsselbloem’s remarks about shifting tax away from labour, he asked "What else do you want to tax?". Mr Dijsselbloem replied "Don't tell voters we can spend our way out of the crisis. If we don't deal with the structure of our economies, we will not be able to help to improve the chances on the labour market for our unemployed youth."

Press Statement

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