WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1492/97 by Raimo ILASKIVI to the Commission. Dealing with changing economic circumstances under EMU
C 21/60 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 1. 98 The tasks of the funds relating to the Community internally are specified in various Articles of the Treaty. The Structural Funds do, however, participate in the financing of cross-border and inter-regional cooperation programmes with third countries in conjunction with other financial instruments such as PHARE, MEDA and TACIS. (98/C 21/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1492/97 by Raimo Ilaskivi (PPE) to the Commission (30 April 1997) Subject: Dealing with changing economic circumstances under EMU Against the current background of high unemployment in many countries, strict compliance with the convergence criteria for EMU can easily reduce virtually to zero the scope for national measures to boost the economy. The single currency will make exchange rate policies a thing of the past, interest rate policies will be laid down by the joint central bank: these, and many other things, will be facts of life once the third stage of EMU has come into force. The rules laying down the maximum percentages for the budget deficit and public debt and the fines which will be imposed should they be exceeded will make an active budget policy to deal with exceptional national circumstances or requirements impossible. What measures do the Commission and, at the latterís suggestion, the Council intend to take to ensure that budget deficits and public debts are considered in the light of all the prevailing circumstances and not just on the basis of the situation at a given moment, since only in this way can the Member States be guaranteed at least some scope to deal with changing economic circumstances and, in particular, fight unemployment? Only budget policy measures will be possible. Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (12 June 1997) The Commission is aware of the importance of taking into account all relevant information, including the phase of the business cycle, when assessing a Member Stateís budgetary performance. For this reason, the Treaty and the stability and growth pact allow a public deficit of 3% of gross domestic product or, in case of exceptional and temporary circumstances such as a severe recession, an even higher deficit. Provided that in normal circumstances a Member State aims at balanced public finances, this will provide an ample buffer for recession and allow for countercyclical budgetary policies. Hence, the Commission sees no conflict between active budgetary policies and the Treatyís requirement of sound public finances. (98/C 21/149) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1495/97 by Antoine-François Bernardini (PSE) to the Commission (30 April 1997) Subject: Fares on the Thalys A problem has arisen with regard to the Thalys rail service between Paris and Brussels. Large families have not been able to obtain special reductions on Thalys since the service started on 2 June 1996. They are therefore forced to purchase tickets which offer far less flexibility and are more expensive. For instance, the áminií fare is available for only 80 seats for which tickets are put on sale 60 days in advance, and the áloisirí fare represents a 36% increase in the fare for a family with three children. Is it to be concluded that the EEIG responsible for operating the Thalys service is exempt from public service obligations? Does the above situation not constitute blatant discrimination and a barrier to the free movement of persons?