During EP plenary session in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Review of the economic governance framework; stocktaking and challenges. Extracts from statements by Pervenche BER&Egrave;S (S&amp;D, FR), Rapporteur, Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, Anne SANDER (EPP, FR), Ildik&oacute; G&Aacute;LL-PELCZ (EPP, HU) and Sylvie GOULARD (ALDE, FR).

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

BERÈS, Pervenche (S&D, FR)

KATAINEN, Jyrki (FI, EC)

SANDER, Anne (EPP, FR)

economic governance (T)

GÁLL-PELCZ, Ildikó (EPP, HU)

GOULARD, Sylvie (ALDE, FR)

Review of the economic governance framework; stocktaking and challenges: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Pervenche BER&#200;S (S&amp;D, FR), Rapporteur, Investment must become a key indicator to make sure that we are conducting the right policy at the Member States level, at the aggregated level. We also have to stress that the structural reform is a very demanding reform, and that has to be assessed over the time, taking into account the results, not just the labour costs, but also integrating social environmental and economic factors.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pervenche BER&#200;S (S&amp;D, FR), Rapporteur, We said that the troika system cannot be repeated in the future. We are also saying that we have to go further, and that&acute;s the most important message contained in this report.  The European Semester have to allow us to conduct better economic policies in the entire EU. Therefore we need to do it. We shall have the courage to do it, because it is going to be necessary to correct the rules, to make them easier and more complete, and we have to improve the economic governance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro , We all knew that the European Semester is an important vehicle to coordinate economic policies and deliver reforms. We all agree that national ownership brings a wide consultation of national stakeholders and supported by democratic over side, is key for the implementation of reforms. For this reason, the new European Semesters pays so much focus on prioritising, consultations and debate. Discussions in the EP, and in particular in the context of economic dialogue are important elements in guaranteeing the transparency and legitimacy of the European Semester.

SOUNDBITE (French), Anne SANDER (EPP, FR), EMPL, We have to raise the profile of the social situation in the Member States. The return to economic growth and employment will only be able to be achieved if we reform the labour market, at least in some Member States.

SOUNDBITE (Hungarian), Ildik&#243; G&#193;LL-PELCZ (EPP, HU), IMCO , Strengthening economic governance is related to our work on European Semester. Establishing this pillar, the IMCO committee has also submitted an opinion on this. I'm convinced that uniform steering needs to be improved if we are willing to achieve our objectives. It is necessary that we avoid a distinction being made between individual measures. The measures that exist must be developed further, must achieve a greater synergy between these measures and establish indicators that will make sure that we can measure progress.

SOUNDBITE (French), Sylvie GOULARD (ALDE, FR), AFCO, How we can insure that the rules are better complied with, one of the institutions that played a very important role in the consolidation of the European Community at the time, and the European Union now, is the European Court of Justice which just handed down an important judgement on outright monetary transactions. We think that it was interesting to open for a potential change in the Treaty, the increasing the role of the Court. It is naturally the body which is supposed to ensure that the rules are complied with. Unfortunately, that provision was not incorporated in the report. I think this is necessary due to the lack of confidence that it is at the moment in the legal and political architecture of the governance of the Eurozone.