Europe forces countries to tighten budget belts, but will ordinary people have a say?

The News: Brussels, the budget watchdog?

As the debt crisis rocks Greece and Italy

and exposes weaknesses  in Europe’s budget policies,

the EU Commission  is playing a watchdog role.

One new tool to help it tighten  economic belts is the European Semester.

This roadmap coordinates the way  countries draw up their budgets.

Brussels gets to supervise  and could sanction those who ignore it.

It’s important to perfect this tool  which is a key element

in the better coordination of eurozone  member's economic and financial policies.

The process starts with  a Commission growth survey.

Based on that, national governments  identify economic challenges

and present budget strategies in Brussels.

By July, the Commission and Council  give guidance to each country,

especially if their plans are not realistic.

Then all national parliaments  adopt their budgets.

Early the following year, the EC and Council  judge how well the plans were implemented

But with people on the streets,  notably in Greece,

Europe's only elected body  the EP worries

about decisions being made  behind closed doors.

Economic policy strategy  cannot be determined solely

is still to have it debated  and receive democratic legitimacy.

For now, national parliaments must prove  they've learned the lessons of the crisis.

while Parliament can only hope  it will be granted the same right.