Activities of Zsolt László BECSEY related to 2008/2156(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EMU10: The first 10 years of Economic and Monetary Union and future challenges (debate)
Amendments (10)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the euro area is set to expand further as most Member States currently outside the euro area are preparing to join at some point in the future – a condition of accession, in fact, for countries which joined the Union between 2004 and 2007 – and Slovakia is the next in line,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that more needs to be done to reap the full benefits of EMU, such as enabling Member States and regions with below-average GDP to catch up, and to strengthen citizens' understanding and commitment to the single currency.
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the main elements of the SGP must also be consistently adhered tobe handled flexibly in the future, since both the criterion of 3 % and that of a maximum national debt of 60 % were specified on the basis of the economic conditions in the 1990s, and lower growth rates would necessitate substantially stricter criteria; higher growth rates do, however, enable the debt-to-GDP ratio to fall, even if the annual debt rises temporarily above 3%; is of the opinion that the SGP must be adhered to strictly by the Member States and supervised by the Commission; notes that an effective coordination of economic and financial policy is desirable within the EMU, although it should respect the principle of subsidiarity; stresses that existing supervisory instruments must be used better by the Commission and that the medium-term examination of national budgets by the Eurogroup has to be strengthened;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Requests the Commission to handle, in a uniform manner, the common criteria in assessing economic and fiscal data; refers to the responsibility of the Commission and the Member States regarding the reliability of the statistical data, and demands that future decisions be taken only if there is no doubt regarding the validity and accuracy of the available data; requests also that the option of imposing sanctions be used if there is a discrepancy over a number of years between the projected data of the convergence or stability programmes of a particular Member State and the data which can realistically be expected;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that the primary objective of the ECB’s monetary policy is to maintain price stability, and that the ECB aims at inflation rates of below, but close to, 2 % over the medium term; the system can thus be seen to lack a system of sanctions for excessive inflation – along the lines of the excessive budget procedure – which results in certain governments opting for the non-sanctioned excess in their economic policies; considers that this definition of price stability should be examined in the context of a new age of globalisation characterised by rising energy and food prices;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses its willingness to explore possible improvements in the procedure for appointing the members of the ECB's executive board before 2010; regards it as important that a variety of backgrounds – including citizens of Member States outside the euro area, in accordance with the Treaty – be represented among executive board members; draws attention to its calls for an ECB executive board of nine members, thus replacing the system existing now and avoiding the even more complex solution decided upon for the future; urges a corresponding change to the Treaty.
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Requests that all Member States outside the euro area observe the Maastricht criteria and the reformed and generally flexible SGP; considers that a strict interpretation of the SGP and the use of the exclusion criteria before any possible accession must be ensured by the Commission; notes that equal treatment of the Member States in the euro area and Member States wishing to join must be ensured, for example in the area of accountability for meeting the inflation criteria; notes, in this context, that the long-term stability of the euro area must be regarded as an aim of common interest and for this reason considers it important that low GDP countries receive help with catching up, which may entail more flexible judgement in the matter of inflation, and also notes that enlargement and stability must go hand in hand; deems it essential for Member States in the euro area and those with a special status strictly fulfil their obligations and leave no doubt about the common aims of price stability, independence of the ECB, budget discipline or their fostering of growth, employment and competitiveness;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Welcomes the stronger supervision of Member States participating in ERM II and wishing to join the euro area, as well as their economic development; notes that the successful participation in the ERM II must remain a major precondition and not only a secondary requirement for membership of the euro area; is of the opinion that a high degree of real convergence is a precondition for adoption of the euro and therefore that no 'accession discounts' can be given, so that the limit of pre-membership currency revaluation acceptable in ERM II must be made clear in order that, following accession, the ability of Member States to meet the inflation criteria as a result of the fixing of the exchange rate will not be endangered; deems it worth considering the measurement of the inflation criteria at the EMU average or the ECB inflation goal of 2 % as a reference base (rather than the three best-performing Member States);
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Supports the intention of the Commission to strengthen the influence of the EMU in international financial institutions with a common EU position represented by selected representatives, such as the president of the Eurogroup, the Commission and the president of the ECB; notes that previous practice already permits them to participate as observer in the most important international financial institutions; demands, however, a better coordination of European positions in order for the common European monetary policy to be represented by its legitimate representatives in future; expects that a euro area position on the exchange rate policies of its main partners can be expressed; calls on the president of the Eurogroup to represent the euro area at the Financial Stability Forum.; stresses that Member States planning to join the euro area should, for reasons of common objectives, challenges and visions, also participate in the eurogroup as observers, alongside Member States already in the euro area;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 – point f
Paragraph 41 – point f
f) A long-term strategy to reduce national debts to a maximum of 60 percent (40 percent for Member States where growth is consistently slower than average) should be included in the framework for economic governance;