CELEX: 52011SC0809
Language: en
Date: 2011-06-07 00:00:00
Title: Recommendation for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the National Reform Programme 2011 of Irelandand delivering a Council opinionon the updated Stability Programme of Ireland, 2011-2014

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		52011SC0809
		
			Recommendation for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the National Reform Programme 2011 of Irelandand delivering a Council opinionon the updated Stability Programme of Ireland, 2011-2014 /* SEC/2011/0809 final  */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	Recommendation for a
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
on the National Reform Programme 2011 of Ireland
and delivering a Council opinion
on the updated Stability Programme of Ireland, 2011-2014
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 121(2) and 148(4)
thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No
1466/97 of 7 July 1997 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary
positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies, and in
particular Article 5(3) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation of the
European Commission,
Having regard to the conclusions of the
European Council,
Having regard to the opinion of the
Employment Committee,
After consulting the Economic and Financial
Committee,
Whereas:
(1)              
On 26 March 2010, the European Council agreed to
the European Commission's proposal to launch a new strategy for jobs and
growth, Europe 2020, based on enhanced coordination of economic policies, which
will focus on the key areas where action is needed to boost Europe’s potential
for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
(2)              
On 13 July 2010, the Council adopted a
recommendation on the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and the Union (2010 to 2014) and on 21 October 2010,
adopted a decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member
States,[1] which together form the
“integrated guidelines”. Member States were invited to take the integrated
guidelines into account in their national economic and employment policies.
(3)              
On 7 December 2010, the Council of the European
Union (EU) adopted an Implementing Decision 2011/77/EU on granting Union
financial assistance to Ireland for a period of three years under the
provisions of the Treaty and the Council Regulation (EU) No 407/2010 of 11 May
2010 establishing a European financial stabilisation mechanism. The
accompanying Memorandum of Understanding signed on 16 December 2010 and its
first update lay down the economic policy conditions on the basis of which the
financial assistance is granted. The Council Implementing Decision was amended
on 16 May 2011. The first update of the Memorandum of Understanding was signed
on 18 May 2011.
(4)              
On 12 January 2011, the Commission adopted the
first Annual Growth Survey, marking the start of a new cycle of economic
governance in the EU and the first European semester of ex-ante and integrated
policy coordination, which is anchored in the Europe 2020 strategy. 
(5)              
On 25 March 2011, the European Council endorsed
the priorities for fiscal consolidation and structural reform (in line with the
Council’s conclusions of 15 February and 7 March 2011 and further to the
Commission’s Annual Growth Survey). It underscored the need to give priority to
restoring sound budgets and fiscal sustainability, reducing unemployment
through labour market reforms and making new efforts to enhance growth. It
requested Member States to translate these priorities into concrete measures to
be included in their Stability or Convergence Programmes and National Reform
Programmes.
(6)              
On 25 March 2011, the European Council also
invited the Member States participating in the Euro Plus Pact to present their
commitments in time to be included in their Stability or Convergence Programmes
and their National Reform Programmes. 
(7)              
On 29 April 2011, Ireland submitted its 2011
Stability Programme update covering the period 2011-2015 and its 2011 National
Reform Programme. In order to take account of their interlinkages, these
programmes have been assessed at the same time.
(8)              
The crisis brought about a major correction of
the large imbalances built during the preceding boom years. Between 2007 and
2010 real GDP declined by 12% and employment by nearly 13%, with unemployment
increasing from 4.6% in 2007 to 13.7% in 2010. It also led to a dramatic
deterioration in public finances, with the general government deficit ratio
reaching double-digit levels in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, the general government
deficit reached 32.4% of GDP, including financial sector support measures of
20.5% of GDP. The debt-to-GDP ratio increased from 25% in 2007 to 96% in 2010.
(9)              
The implementation of the EU-IMF financial
assistance programme is broadly on track. The agreed fiscal measures have been
implemented, the 2010 fiscal target was met, and fiscal outturns in the first
quarter of 2011 have also been in line with the programme targets. The general
government 2011 deficit is forecast to remain below the programme ceiling,
despite a downward revision in the forecast for nominal GDP in 2011. Important
progress has been made in reforming the banking system and steps have been
taken to achieve of the structural reform objectives. 
(10)          
Based on the assessment of the updated Stability
Programme pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97, the Council is of the
opinion that the macroeconomic scenario underpinning the budgetary projections in the programme is
plausible. The medium-term budgetary strategy of the programme is to bring the
headline general government deficit below the 3% of GDP reference value by the
deadline foreseen in the Council Recommendation of 3 December 2010. The
programme targets deficits of 10.0% of GDP in 2011, 8.6% in 2012, 7.2% in 2013,
4.7% in 2014 and 2.8% by the end of the programme period in 2015. This path is
underpinned by consolidation measures of 3.75% of GDP implemented in the budget
for 2011, and broad consolidation measures of 5.75% of GDP in 2012-14 and a
further unspecified consolidation effort of more than 1% of GDP in 2015. The
stability programme restates the medium-term objective (MTO) for the budgetary
position of -0.5% of GDP, which is not reached within the programme period. Ireland appears to be at high risk with regard to the long-term sustainability of public
finances. Achieving sufficient primary surpluses over the medium-term and
further reforming the Irish social security system is necessary to improve the
sustainability of public finances. 
(11)          
Ireland has made a
number of commitments under the Euro Plus Pact, which were submitted on 3 May
2011[2].
These include concrete measures to foster competitiveness, including reforming
wage-setting mechanisms, opening up certain professional services to
competition, strengthening research and innovation, reinforce financial
stability, in particular crisis resolution mechanisms, and enhance public
finance sustainability through a medium-term budget framework, reforming
pensions and increasing the retirement age. 
(12)          
The Commission has assessed the Stability
Programme and National Reform Programme, including the Euro Plus Pact
commitments.[3] It has taken into account
not only their relevance for sustainable fiscal and socio-economic policy in
Ireland but their conformity with EU rules and guidance, given the need to
strengthen the overall economic governance of the European Union by providing
EU level input into future national decisions. In this context, the Commission
stresses the urgency of implementing the planned measures to comply with
Council Decision 2011/77/EU.
(13)          
In light of this assessment, also taking into
account the Council Recommendation under Article 126(7) TFEU of 7 December
2010, the Council has examined the 2011 update of the Stability Programme of
Ireland and its opinion[4]. Taking into account the
European Council conclusions of 25 March 2011, the Council has examined the
National Reform Programme of Ireland,
HEREBY RECOMMENDS that Ireland should :
implement the measures as laid down in Implementing Decision
2011/77/EU on granting Union financial assistance to Ireland, as amended by
Decision of 16 May 2011, and further specified in the Memorandum of
Understanding of 16 December 2010 and its update of 18 May 2011.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               Maintained for 2011 by Council Decision 2011/308/EU
of 19 May 2011.
[2]               More details on the commitments made under the Euro
Plus Pact can be found in SEC(2011) 716.
[3]               SEC(2011) 716.
[4]               Foreseen in Article 5(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No
1466/97.