Seanad debates

Wednesday, 26 November 2003

Book of Estimates 2004: Statements.

 

I want to refer briefly to yesterday's meeting of Finance Ministers. I made this point twice already today, once during Mr. McCartin's visit here and again when members of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Parliament appeared before the Committee on Finance and the Public Service. The public coverage of the meeting misses an important point. It indicates that the big countries are getting away with something with which small countries would not be allowed to get away. I am speculating here because I have no inside knowledge. I think there is another issue at stake here, which is the degree of control the European Commission should have over national budgetary policy. The Government is remarkably close to the French and German Governments on this issue, which is that basically within very broad parameters national budgets are a matter for national governments and not for close supervision.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.