Ilves, Juncker: All Members Answerable for Eurozone Stability
The Eurozone is not suffering from a crisis, however, it is up to member states to make it stronger and more of a success, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker concluded at their meeting in Tallinn on May 3.
"We need responsible economic policies from all - that is to say, all - Eurozone members, meaning that all look and see beyond their short-term interior political goals," Ilves said.
The launching of the reform of the EU Stability and Growth Pact and defining of strict budgetary rules will give the Eurozone the proper means to act more vigorously when serious problems occur, Ilves said. "Problem countries will have to keep the commitments stipulated in their national response programs to avoid new crises of confidence," he added.
Discussing strengthening of the EU organization and the role of smaller member states in the union's decision making, Ilves emphasized the importance of a robust European Commission as "the backbone of the EU," granting equal representation to all member countries.
Erkki Sivonen