Following the political agreement on the Multi-annual Financial Framework, there will be a number of related sectoral proposals that are now in the pipeline. This is essential to be able to apply the new programmes as of the beginning of 2014.
We count on the Lithuanian Presidency's support also in overseeing the national part of the 2013 European Semester, including the first implementation of the so called two-pack - we will be reviewing national budget plans from October - and in moving forward the work on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union. The Commission will come with legal proposals on ex-ante policy coordination and on the Competitiveness and Convergence Instrument on which I hope we can make progress soon, but that will require a lot of management. Up until now, there was broad support for the general principles but a reluctance to really engage with the specifics.
We will also present a proposal for a Single Resolution Mechanism already next week, for adoption before the end of this mandate.
Some areas of work for the next six months are the result of recent momentum, and we should not lose this momentum:
On taxation, following the May Council and also the G8, there is room to make further progress, like on Savings Taxation and the fight against tax fraud or on the new proposal on administrative cooperation. We need to agree on concrete commitments and timeline regarding tax havens and aggressive tax planning, as proposed by the Commission...
Progress on the Compact for Growth and Jobs and correct implementation of the country specific recommendations under the European Semester will be crucial to get Europe back on track to growth. At European level, finalisation of the remaining proposals under the Single Market Act I and convincing progress on the Single Market Act II will be key. The Commission will also propose legislation to complete the single market in telecoms.
In this context, let me highlight another element of the Commission's thinking that will help make sure that promoting structural reform and pursuing fiscal consolidation are mutually reinforcing.
We need to promote margins for investment for growth, in full respect of the Stability and Growth Pact. So, following its commitments in the Blueprint for a deep and genuine economic and monetary union as well as in the two-pack, the Commission has explored further ways within the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact to accommodate non-recurrent public investment programmes with a proven impact on the sustainability of public finances made by the member states in the assessment of their Stability and Convergence Programmes.
I want to announce today that, when assessing the national budgets for 2014 and the budgetary outcomes for 2013 we will – again: in full respect of the Stability and Growth Pact - consider allowing temporary deviations from the structural deficit path towards the medium-term objectives set in the country specific recommendations, on a case by case basis. Such a deviation must be linked to national expenditure on projects co-funded by the European Union under the Structural and Cohesion policy, Trans-European Networks or Connecting Europe Facility with a positive, direct and verifiable long-term budgetary effect.
Today, Vice-President Olli Rehn is writing to his colleagues, the finance ministers, and to the European Parliament to explain our approach in detail, as agreed in the Two Pack agreement.
Strong and committed European political parties are needed for European democracy. As I mentioned in my State of the Union speech last year, we need a reinforced statute for European political parties in the run-up to the European elections next year. We came close to a conclusion of this file under the Irish Presidency. I would therefore urge the Lithuanian Presidency to treat this file as a priority, and I hope we can conclude a deal on this too.
We have a responsibility and an opportunity to make the next six months a period of progress and delivery. The Lithuanian Presidency will be crucial in completing the preparatory work to allow all MFF programmes to start on 1st January 2014. We have important pending and forthcoming legislation to conclude in time for next elections. I am confident that we will manage if we work together in a truly constructive and pro-European spirit. I know it will be in this spirit of results, concrete results for the citizens, that we will work with you and I wish all success to the Lithuanian presidency, all success to our common European project.
Full statement
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