EPP Group: no growth without reforms

'European Semester' must be taken more seriously by Member States

"Reforms and fiscal consolidation are the only way to reduce unemployment and poverty in the countries most affected by the financial crisis and to help the Euro Area to return to sustainable growth," said Dariusz Rosati MEP, Parliament's Rapporteur on this year's European Semester, the yearly cycle of economic policy coordination between Member states.

Rosati called also for greater efforts by Member States to implement the reforms they committed to. "The European Semester must be taken more seriously by Member States. The low implementation rate is appalling. Whether they are big or small, all Member States should respect the Stability and Growth Pact. They can use the existing flexibility clause, but they must stick to the rules," he said today in Strasbourg.

Sofia Ribeiro MEP, the EPP Group's negotiator on the employment and social aspects in this year's Semester report, emphasised that: "It is vital that we keep fighting against youth unemployment and long-term unemployment. We owe this support to young Europeans as they represent the power to leverage the European economy. We also need to create the conditions to implement an effective birth policy that tackles the fast-aging European population. Solutions are urgently needed to allow a balance between work and family life and encourage training and learning as well as dual education."

Ribeiro calls also for a Europe that does not leave anyone behind: "A balance is needed in this Europe of regions. We must promote real social and territorial cohesion, with special attention for the outermost regions and the less-developed regions".

lldikó Gáll-Pelcz MEP, Parliament's Rapporteur on Single Market governance within the European Semester, sees the completion of the Single Market as a priority: "This can be reached through the adoption and implementation of measures boosting sustainable and inclusive growth. To better enforce Single Market rules, there is a need to further develop and strengthen existing mechanisms and achieve better synergies between them."