WRITTEN QUESTION E-1608/01 by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Effects of Mr Berlusconi's election programme on the stability of the euro area.
Date: 2001-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, application of EU law, budget policy, election programme, fiscal policy, sanction (EU), stability pact

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/159

(2001/C 364 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1608/01

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Effects of Mr Berlusconi(cid:146)s election programme on the stability of the euro area

Last Sunday(cid:146)s elections in Italy seem to have resulted in a win for the centre-right Forza Italia party.
The election programme of the chairman of the party and possible future prime minister, Mr Silvio
Berlusconi, MEP, included promises of significant tax cuts and increased public investment. Unfortunately,
it was not made clear how these promises would be financed.

Does the Commission propose to take any measures if

1.
implemented in Italy at a time when the inflationary pressure on the euro area is still high?

this expansionist economic policy is

2.
Is the Commission considering initiating the same type of procedure as in the case of Ireland?
In other words will it give a warning to Italy too, if Italy(cid:146)s taxation and public spending solutions are in
conflict with the country(cid:146)s growth and stability package and have a harmful impact on the stability of the
euro area as a whole? Or are such warnings only given to the small countries in the euro area?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(25 July 2001)

The Commission actively monitors economic and budgetary developments in all Member States. Member
States(cid:146) policies are assessed on the basis of government policy objectives and of their implementation.

Based on the Italian government(cid:146)s budgetary strategy and its implementation, the Ecofin Council has
the Italian
recently formulated a set of Broad Economic Policy Guidelines, which recommend that
government achieve its fiscal policy targets. Electoral programmes do not count as government policy.

The recommendation issued by the Ecofin Council to Ireland was based on the inconsistency of the Irish
government(cid:146)s budgetary plans with the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines for 2000.

The Commission will continue to monitor budgetary developments in Italy, including for consistency with
the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines for 2001.

(2001/C 364 E/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1616/01

by James Provan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Cost of refurbishment of the Berlaymont building

(12 June 2001)

Will the Commission indicate the cost of renovation of the Berlaymont, the original budgeted estimate, the
expected date of completion, and the added costs of relocation of staff from the old building and to the
renovated one?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

The latest estimate provided by S.A. Berlaymont 2000 of the cost of renovation of the Berlaymont building
as at 31 March 2001 was BEF 15,714 million (€ 390 million). However, this will probably not be the final