Moscovici hardly credible

EPP Group wants "Mr Stability, not Mr Flexibility"

"Promises on compliance with the Stability Pact and the progress of structural reforms are nice to hear. But only action is what counts," said Burkhard Balz MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, after today's Hearing of Pierre Moscovici, the French Commissioner-Designate.

Balz was not satisfied by Moscovici's answers in the parliamentary hearing. "Moscovici is hardly credible. He did not convince his own government to ensure compliance with the Stability Pact and to enforce deep economic reforms. How will he be able to convince 28 Member States?" asked Balz.

The EPP Group wants every Member State to be treated equally, Balz insists. "We do not want a 'Mr Flexibility' who looks for loopholes and constantly points to the differences of each Member State's economic situation. Europe needs a 'Mr Stability' who treats small and big Member States in the same way," the EPP MEP pointed out.

Pierre Moscovici did not show any vision for the future of the Monetary Union Burkhard Balz MEP

"In today's presentation Mr Moscovici did not convince us at all. His answers on his time as French Finance Minister were extremely weak. He did not show any vision for the future of the Monetary Union. There is an absolute necessity to have a strong voice in the new Commission speaking for stability and reforms," stresses Balz.

According to Balz, Moscovici remained very vague on several topics. "We call for strong commitments towards Parliament and for clarification on his actual portfolio and mandate," Balz said.