European Council: this is not a diktat, it is what we decided together

European Council decisions on economic policy are "not a diktat", they are "what we decided together", said EPP Group Chairman Joseph Daul during the European Parliament plenary debate on the next summit of EU Heads of Government.

“The number of European Council meetings already held in search of a solution to the crisis leaves me feeling pensive. The meetings keep coming. Decisions are taken. But they are being implemented very slowly, if at all. We must be responsible and stick to our commitments. The commitments are clear. Our governments agreed to undertake the necessary reforms to relaunch the economy. We support the European Commission to play its role of referee and guardian to all Member States. It made some concrete proposals in its country specific guidelines. The Member States have a clearly-defined roadmap to follow. This is not a diktat. This is what we decided together,” he pointed out.

The EPP Group Chairman underlined that, to function better, Europe needs real reforms, including on automatic exchange of data, not only on taxation but on all revenues. At the same time, the EU needs a strong budget that will provide added value in terms of growth-boosting investment and will be able to deal with unexpected situations. Joseph Daul reminded the Member States that the Parliament strongly insists on flexibility, reactivity and a revision clause for the next Multiannual Financial Framework: “In many EU countries we have to speed up the implementation of the programme on growth and youth employment. It is impossible with this inflexible framework. Without flexibility, the unfortunate Cypriots, the victims of the floods and the young unemployed will be put at the bottom of the list of priorities".