WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1312/98 by José GARCÍA-MARGALLO Y MARFIL to the Commission. EURO 1999
Date: 1998-04-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, budget policy, coordination of EMU policies, currency adjustment, economic convergence, economic growth, economic stabilisation, public finance

C 402/110

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.12.98

(98/C 402/142)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1312/98

by JosØ Garc(cid:237)a-Margallo y Marfil (PPE) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: EURO 1999

As a result of the Pact for Stability and Growth adopted by the Amsterdam European Council in June 1997, the
Member States(cid:146) medium-term budgetary objective will be to achieve (cid:145)positions close to balance or in surplus(cid:146). If
the Member States continue their budgetary adjustments in subsequent years, their public finances will be in the
best position to tackle the budgetary consequences of a possible downturn in the economy.

But what does the Commission think would be the current situation in Belgium if the Stability Pact had been
applied during the period 1992-1997?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission

(2 June 1998)

The stability and growth pact is constituted by a resolution of the European Council of 7 June 1997 (1), by Council
Regulation (EC) 1466/97 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and
coordination of economic policies (2), and Council Regulation (EC) 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and
clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure2. The pact aims at fiscal discipline in the
economic and monetary union (EMU) thus creating the appropriate stability conditions for sustained growth. It
provides a powerful system of incentives for a Member State not to incur an excessive deficit and to correct it
rapidly if such a situation should occur.

In 1992, Belgium had a general government deficit of 6.9 % of gross domestic product (GDP) and in 1993 the
deficit was 7.1 % of GDP. this situation led to a Council decision of 26 September 1994 on the existence of an
excessive deficit in Belgium (Article 104c (6) of the EC Treaty). In the period covered by the Honourable
Member(cid:146)s question, i.e. 1992 to 1997, Belgium budgetary policy was mainly geared towards convergence, i.e. to
correct the excessive deficit situation and thus to meet the convergence criteria on the budgetary position.
Moreover, paragraphs 9 and 11 of Article 104c of the EC Treaty, which deal with sanctions, did not apply during
stage two of EMU.

(1) OJ C 236, 2.8.1997.
(2) OJ L 209, 2.8.1997.

(98/C 402/143)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1322/98

by Angela Sierra GonzÆlez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 April 1998)

Subject: Development of the Barranco de Veneguera (Gran Canaria)

The Canary Islands Parliament has recently adopted a bye-law authorizing the urban development of the
Barranco de Veneguera (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands), in spite of a Popular Legislative Initiative bearing about
50 000 signatures which calls for it to be included in the Law on Canary Island Nature Conservancy Areas as an
area of nature conservancy.

The request for the Barranco de Veneguera to be included in the Nublo Countryside Park was prompted by the
important zoological and botanical value of the area. Scientists regard Veneguera as the most important nature
conservancy area for the tabaiba cardoon in Gran Canaria. They have identified 12 species endemic to Gran
Canaria, and 34 to the Canaries archipelago. In other words, the area contains a striking example of the (cid:145)habitat of
thermo-Mediterranean and pre-steppe brush(cid:146) protected by Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural
habitats and wild flora and fauna (1).