Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-06-13-Speech-3-413-000"
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"en.20120613.27.3-413-000"2
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"Mr President, the road towards a true economic and fiscal union to complement our monetary union is, of course, full of hurdles. The new legislation in force on economic governance, reinforced today with the voting of the ‘two-pack’ in Parliament, has given new tools to the Commission to ensure that Member States choose the right part of a growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, but also stick to their country-specific recommendations.
As a Liberal, I truly believe that reforms of our economy and social system, such as labour market reforms and pension reforms, should be at the heart of regaining competitiveness in the eurozone. But unfortunately, in the past months, we have seen that some Member States have overly contradicted the country-specific recommendations.
Let us take the example of France. It has stated that it will undo the pension reforms and lower the retirement age. This is completely against the spirit of the recommendations given to France to ensure that all workers stay in employment longer.
Also in my own country, Belgium, wage setting hampers regaining competitiveness, but socialist members of governments have openly said that they will not address this problem. This is a perfect example of how countries choose not to show solidarity with other countries within the eurozone. As long as Member States keep looking to other Member States to enlarge the competitiveness of the Union and are not able or willing to implement or reform in their own country, the fundamental economic crisis in Europe will not end.
We must ensure that Member States finally take ownership of the European Semester and implement the structural reforms needed. We must ensure that, instead of blaming the European Union for everything that goes wrong, Member States are made responsible and more accountable for their policies. The Commission will have to ensure that Member States put into practice what they preach, but how will it make sure that Member States within the Council show the necessary solidarity with each other and commit to the fiscal consolidation and structural reforms as requested through the European Semester or enable the European Union to be the frontrunner in attracting private investment to regain competitiveness and growth? True solidarity implies responsibility from all Member States. Member States should stop hiding behind Europe, but instead use the full potential that Europe has to get out of this crisis."@en1
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