Stability Pact, von der Leyen: 'No conditions for suspension'

Despite the fact that the crisis in the Middle East is far from resolved, at the moment there are no conditions to suspend the Stability Pact. Thus the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen nipped in the bud the possibility, at least for the time being, of a new intervention in the Stability and Growth Pact, after an initial halt during the years of the covid emergency.

The President of the Commission told a press conference: "The first important point is that the 'anti-crisis measures' of the member states "must be temporary, targeted, timely. Regarding the activation of the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact, at the moment, as I speak there are no conditions to appeal". However, von der Leyen assures, 'the Commission will continue to coordinate with European interests in mind: we will see how the crisis develops. With regard to economic interventions, it is good that states do not worsen their deficit levels,' he added.

"This week we will consult the Member States on the suspension of state aid rules," von der Leyen continued, speaking of the energy sector, adding that "the Temporary Framework (the rule implementing the new competition regime, ed.) should be activated within this month". According to the new provisions, measures should be targeted at vulnerable groups, timely and temporary. 'More can be done to reduce demand,' the president further stated, 'because the cheapest energy is obviously the energy we do not use. We should reduce demand, while fully respecting consumers' free choice. We are looking at energy efficiency levers, such as renovation'.

Finally, von der Leyen appealed to the member states to invest in reducing their energy dependency. "I encourage the member states to invest the EU cohesion funds they have, they must invest in energy autonomy, in storage. But private investments must also be mobilised,' he concluded.