During the meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), MEPs exchange of views with Luis DE GUINDOS, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank (ECB). Statements by Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS (ALDE, ES), Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO (GUE/NGL, ES), and Ernest URTASUN (Greens/ALE, ES).

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

LÓPEZ BERMEJO, Paloma (GUE/NGL, ES)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

appointment of a member of the ECB Executive Board (T)

TREMOSA i BALCELLS, Ramon (ALDE, ES)

URTASUN, Ernest (Greens/EFA, ES)

DE GUINDOS JURADO, Luis (ES)

Appointment of the Vice-President of the European Central Bank: extracts from the exchange of views with Luis DE GUINDOS, candidate for the position

Introductory shots, arrival of Luis DE GUINDOS, candidate for the position of Vice-president of the BCE, atmosphere shots before the start of the meeting.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, For the benefits of monetary policy will get to the real economy, countries should not delay their structural reforms which are the best tools for reducing the risks within a monetary union. We should not forget that the crisis wasn&rsquo;t just because of fiscal deficits but because of imbalances due to differences in competitiveness; that&rsquo;s why it is of key importance that countries will take action for structural reforms.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, The current economic expansion and the relative political stability are a great opportunity for the necessary reforms for the completion and the strengthening of the EMU.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS (ALDE, ES), You are here today as Spanish minister of Economy, but for how long is this going to be? You may be damaging the idea of impartiality of the BCE if you keep being a Minister.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, The financial system is back on its feet in Spain and whereas we had fragmented markets we have overcome this; today households and businesses in Spain are paying similar levels of interest as our EU neighbours.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Today the Spanish Prime Minister said than in the next few days there will be a replacement for me as a Minister. Obviously I tended my resignation to Mr Rajoy and he&rsquo;ll take the appropriate decision as regards my replacement; an appointment will happen in the coming days.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Paloma L&#211;PEZ BERMEJO (GUE/NGL, ES), How can you hope that someone with your credentials is going to favour liquidity in the public debt markets instead of blackmailing them in exchange of structural reforms?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Ernest URTASUN (Greens/ALE, ES), Some members of your government have reproached certain MEPs not supporting you as a Spanish candidate but I&rsquo;d like to remind you that in 2012 your government did not support the candidate Jose Manuel Campa who had real chances to become a member of the BCE, and presenting another candidate who lost.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Luis DE GUINDOS JURADO, candidate for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, I can assure you that Spanish position in 2012 was not about a name. You should not doubt about it, I can guarantee it.