S&D backtracks on compromise on European semester
Today, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee rejected Parliament’s Annual Report on the European Semester. In an unprecedented move during the votes, previously agreed compromises were rejected by the S&D Group.
Rapporteur Esther de Lange MEP is concerned that this absence of an agreement will carry over to other files: “Of course we regret this outcome but it is especially worrying because it sends a clear signal to the European Commission. As long as the Social Democrats retract on their agreements, and become Parliament’s biggest opposition party, not much will be achieved in the coming years.”
Markus Ferber MEP, EPP Group Spokesman for Economic and Monetary Affairs, calls on all parties to reflect on the consequences of the vote. “It is a disappointing missed opportunity for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee to not have a position before the next European Council of the 18th of October. If Parliament is unable to deliver clear positions on these crucial issues, it will become irrelevant in the policy debate in the years to come.”
The Report is the European Parliament’s contribution to the annual European Semester cycle, during which EU Member States coordinate their budgetary policies and agree on structural reforms. It was particularly important to adopt Parliament’s Report now as the upcoming EU Summit will conclude the current yearly cycle.