Othmar Karas (EPP) and Sharon Bowles (ALDE) give their views after the March European Council in Brussels.

Talking point: Is austerity working?

Following MEPs’ rejection of the proposed  long-term budget at last week’s plenary,

we saw further divisions at the EU summit

as French and German leaders clashed  over austerity measures.

Cyprus is the latest country  needing a bailout,

but as seen Europe-wide,  austerity measures aren’t popular.

With Member States and Parliament  fighting over the budget,

we asked two MEPs, Othmar Karas  from the European People's Party

and Sharon Bowles  from the Liberals and Democrats,

is the Council pushing for austerity right  or should there be a focus on growth?

My impatience is growing,  and not only mine

but that of the European Parliament,  when it comes to summits.

This is where at regular intervals  Europe is being asked to do more,

initiatives are announced and at the  same time less money is made available.

I think it's on many things, but that's  partly a fault of the media as well.

They go to the Council meeting and think  'that's it, that's all that's going to happen'.

We have the same problem  a lot of the time on a lot of things.

Austerity measures  are working in many countries.

I think it is right that you should have things  that are investing in the future.

There is room for flexibility beyond that  which is being exercised at the moment.

But as you know, we are absolutely  split down the middle on this.

But you can't just say everything's going to  relax back to where we were,

I'm fiercely opposed to the juxtaposition  between austerity and investment.

We have to reduce deficits,  save money and increase efficiency,

we have to reform  and invest in growth and jobs.

It’s not about an 'either or' choice,  it’s about a coherent overall scheme.