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THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT is reportedly seeking agreement among European Union member states to begin work on a new EU treaty enshrining budget rules across the continent.
News magazine Der Spiegel reports that Angela Merkel’s cabinet ministers and regional heads of government are seeking agreement to establish a convention which would “work on a new legal foundation for the EU”.
The report says the move is supported by a majority of the members of the so-called “future group” – an informal forum of ten EU foreign ministers which includes Germany’s Guido Westerwelle.
Der Spiegel says the report would see the extension of some of the principles contained in the Fiscal Compact and giving them a firm, unquestionable basis within the EU’s founding treaties.
This would include giving the European Court of Justice the right to monitor the individual budgets of member states, and to punish what Germans occasionally call ‘deficit sinners’ – countries which do not meet the overspending limits set down for them by Brussels.
The report also notes, however, that Ireland would be resistant to the idea – as it would trigger an automatic referendum on approval, even though the Fiscal Compact was approved only three months ago – while Poland also opposes it, believing no consensus is possible.
Another potential obstacle is the proposed timing for the new treaty talks: Germany says it wants an agreement on the date for the convention to be agreed at the European Council summit on December 13 and 14.
This could prove difficult – because that meeting will come just two weeks before Ireland assumes the presidency of the European Council, meaning Enda Kenny’s government would be asked to host a convention it has little interest in.
Germany had already sought to have the Fiscal Compact principles enshrined in a full EU treaty, but the vetoes of the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic meant the deal was limited to the status of an international agreement between 25 of the 27 current member states.
The final text of that deal, however, did include a provision that participating countries would seek to adopt its terms into full EU law, though they gave themselves five years to do so. Germany’s move may therefore be seen as a mere fulfilment of this pledge.
AP said Angela Merkel’s office had not responded to requests for comment this afternoon.
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These German ministers contempt for other nations democratic processes is quite worrying. These incompetent politicians are the greatest argument against further European integration.
Conor Connealy.
Incompetence on a political basis sprouted up in Ireland.
Look no further than Irish politics to begin with.
Exactly. How dare those Germans bully us into balancing our budget and not allow governments in a currency union to buy elections and go on solo spending binges which they know full well is only going to end up one way. Damn them and their consistent approach to economics – our system of massive bubble and catastrophic bust is vastly superior. Now remember lads, when the next bubble hits (I’m betting on green energy, garden sheds or some of those cloudy computers Willie O’Dea was on about) be sure and pick yourself up a bolthole in Marbella to scoot off to when the inevitable happens. Huzzah!
Blame the Germans, it’s the easy option.
Forget the Germans, if Irish politicians had any respect for democracy they wouldn’t be holding second referendums every time the first one didn’t go their way.
My kettles broke…..it’s the.Germans fault I’m sure
@Stray Mutt. Ireland’s politicans do not have a monopoly on incompetence.
Europe’s leaders have failed, spectacularly, to deal with this crisis. Despite talk of firewalls the crisis has spread across Europe and is now at Germany’s door, core nation banks (who were to be protected at all costs) have increased their exposure to periphery nations and are now solely dependent on the ECB for funding. Merkel is following Cowen and Kenny’s approach of spin and bluster without effectively tackling the substance of the crisis- excessive unsustainable debt.
She has, also, fallen into the trap of pretending there is a political solution to a crisis caused by triumph of politics over sound economics.
“In fact, what Merkel and her party are piecing together is a radical vision of the EU in a few years time – a deep fiscal and political union. The fiscal side involves tax harmonisation, a tightly policed Stability and Growth Pact with automatic sanctions for countries that breach debt and deficit rules, and the possibility of an EU Commissioner responsible for directly intervention to oversee budgetary policy in a crisis-hit country.”
“All of this is based on the resolution “A strong Europe – a bright future for Germany” adopted at the party’s annual congress last November. The policy paper is clear about the causes and nature of the eurozone crisis – it is about excessive levels of debt built up by countries that lived beyond their means and who, by failing to implement labour market reforms, became chronically uncompetitive. Eurobonds and a system of credit transfers between north and south are out but it amounts to a bold package that would go down well with many federalists.”
EUobserver 25/08/12
They can go and fcuk off!
My thoughts exactly
World war 3 coming on
Here here.
I think you mean you can go and fcuk off.
Who’s gonna stop them?? Not the Irish government that’s for sure, they’re going to do everything in their power to make sure it goes through.
Why? With the EU/IMF monitoring our budgets this engenders some level of fairness in where the cuts are applied. I can only imagine a scenario where our politicians were left to do it themselves. If there has to be cuts, at least this way it’s somewhat equitable rather than cuts being decided on what constituency has a minister in it and what constituency has a flat cap wearing gombeen TD whose vote is needed to keep the government afloat.
Bad as it is, if it wasn’t for the troika it would be much worse as if the past thirty years is anything to go by we’d have the politicians engaging in a full-on battle for protecting pet projects, electoral chances and vested interests as the country fell apart around them.
Look how many TDs bought into property during the boom if you don’t believe me and then look at the senseless and ultimately futile attempts to keep the property bubble afloat at all costs. If our political classes were anything other than self interested buffons of the highest order with a collective intellect that doesn’t extend beyond the latest soundbite in the Sunday papers I’d be all for getting rid of the troika. As it stands…
Are you for real? The EU/IMF told us that we can make changes to our budget once the bottom line stays the same i.e. they’re only interested in us meeting targets, no matter how many ordinary people are put through the grinder.
Best comment I’ve read yet……
@the lost lenore With regard to fairness: aside from doing absolutely nothing to resolve the issues in the Eurozone, they’ve already messed up the next “fair budget” by going for a value based property tax instead of one based on the size of the property.
This is pathetic. Vote Fianna Fail into government three terms in a row on the back of an asset bubble and then blame the Germans. Where’s that condescending Wonka meme?
Germany is on such a high horse. I don’t give a s**t what Germany wants, it is completely self-interested and is taking exploitative advantage over our vulnerable condition. Mr. Kenny seems fine with that though.
Well said Paul
The German government are so deep in sh*t with the money they lent to europe from there own taxpayers to countries like greece and know theres not a snowballs chance in hell they will see it back, now they wanna try cover there tracks by showing there people that in someone they can dictate european policy by calling for new treaties and whatever else in Europe. The sad fact is that the EU is now no better than a Mafia or Cartels you find in the likes of mexico, where the strongest call the shots and direct the rest of the mafia to make sure anyone who shows decent is taken care of…….in our case we get knee-capped economically thats to the EU/ECB/Troika!
You hit the nail on the head.
german gdp is 2.5 trillion. they could write down everyones debt and hardly miss it… but they wont because they still think they are a superior race.
Exactly
@ Ciaran Morgan: They think they are a “superior race”. Where is your evidence of that?
If you have to resort to insulting them about events from 70 odd years ago, then your argument is pathetic.
Mr Kenny along with Bertie and Brian and a lot more for treason
They should be tried for ruining this country
Angela meerkat needs a good kick in the hole
To date,Germany has got what Germany wants…and nothing at the moment seems likely to change that. You can slag Merkel off all ye like but,would’nt you like to have her in your corner.She is doing exactly what the german people pay her to do, and that is a damn sight more than any politician in this country is doing for us (Ireland). We are stuck with a bunch of spineless professional arse lickers and we are getting everything we deserve for allowing it to be so.Not once has any of our politicians been asked to justify/explain how we got in this mess.Just the endless blame game with promises of inquiries and tribunals that cost a fortune and take years to complete their tasks. We have not been told who was at the infamous bank guarantee midnight meeting. We will not get a look at the letter sent by Trichet….Never find out who ignored the persistent warnings about the impending crash,warnings that came in time to limit our exposure to the meltdown of our banking sector. (bertie?) Never find out who the bank officials were who loaned millions to developers etc. knowing full well that the bubble was about to burst and that the monies would never be repaid.Ireland is the biggest mushroom garden on the planet the way our politicians treat us,by feeding us an endless supply of shit. We are not even started yet….just wait till the mortgage bomb fully explodes and then see how fkd we are.The bottom is not yet in sight. I am just being an optimist…Its actually worse. We could do with a Merkel instead of the cast of wanderly wagon that we are stuck with. Heil Merkel…get used to it.
And Kenny and co will go along like rabbits in a head light.
Frankfurts way now unstoppable I fear as GIMPMORE and the boys sawn around the Carlton telling each other what a great job they are doing
The biggest problem is allowing politicians run an economy they make political decisions to get reelected which is usually the opposite to what is economically required.
Should that not be Rabbittes???
I sure they mean a referendum meant to enshrine the German obsession with inflation onto the vassal states, including Ireland that Germany now controls…..RIP European democracy
Germany is intent on a scorched earth policy of austerity. Countries like Italy are not going to stick with the Euro, they are reasonably sound economically, a country that usually does not run a deficit, but has a debt legacy from years ago. The euro has destroyed its competitiveness, perma slump or leave.
Italy out of any Euro country has the most to gain and least to loose in leaving the Euro mess.
i could be wrong, but weren’t france and germany the intial countries that chose to ignore the legally binding “masstricht” treaty?
1 rule for germany just who paid for the reunifcation between east&west ????
we did but that was kept quiet wasnt it
to HELL with germany&the YOYO because thats all it is funny money,play money a revamp of what nepolian wanted 200 yrs ago
LSD flashbacks can be embarrassing……Lay down and stay away from keyboard for a while ….it will pass…lmfao
The head on her she looks a little like Chief Wigum
Very helpful…..
Goodman Alan, did it look like I was trying to help or just make an observation? I would dare get in your way as you seem to have it all in hand. Keep up the good work
Leave Wigum out of this ….We all know it was barney (aka brian cowen )
Well this should have being done before we all started useing the euro it was insane to give all these countries the same currency and no regulation. So i think this is long over due
There are rules there but France and Germany ignored them, and the ECB/EU ignored them because they were France and Germany.
Germany the sick man of Europe at the time, had interest rates set to meets its economic needs, it flouted the rules so as to reform and prime its economy.
Germany sets the rules to suit itself. No doubt it is an incredible economy but lets not pretend that its only concern is its own welfare. Leave the EU solidarity BS to for the PR releases.
Another treaty that refuses to deal with the reality that for the Euro is too strong a currency for most of the periphery, whatever their debt levels.
Look at Italy, home of many leading brands, strong exports, people have massive savings, Govt. runs a surplus most years but it is dealing with a legacy debt, that if it leaves the Euro will be resolved quickly.
Italy will go along for the Euro team for a bit but the economic reality will dictate that they leave in their own interest. Italy’s main problem is that the excessively strong Euro is killing its competitiveness.
Just a step away from the Fourth Reich.
So another referendum looming, what will be the scare tactics this time to secure the correct result?
We should hold an election with the slogan ..It’s labours way or Frankfurts way…no hang on…..
I will definitely vote NO. Time to stand up and be counted. Bullies have to have there bluff called at some point.
I am sick of the lack of backbone or loyalty shown by the Irish Govt.
I am sick of our futures being decided behind closed doors by Politicians with the morals convictions of a cowardly dog and an insatiable greed for as much as they can get from the people that they work for but hold us all in contempt or as obstacles that prevent them from changing our Country to the way they want it.
The slow destruction of democracy and the nation state. It disconnects the average person from government and makes it harder to be heard.
That is what industrialists and political elites want – total control.
It was someone else that said it before me but what the Germans failed to do with tanks, they are now doing with banks.
Any proposal that transfers power to the ECJ wether the muppets in the Dail want it or not triggers a referendum here.They have no choice do you think the previous referenda would have happened if they had a choice.
And yet the sheep that are the majority in Ireland will vote yes, that is if there even is a vote.
Sickening.
She’s a tosspot
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