Stability and Growth Pact

Question for written answer  E-000319/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Hélène Laporte (ID)

Valdis Dombrovkis, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, recently announced that the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) in 2022 will depend on economic developments in the EU in the second half of the year. He ruled out any change in 2021.

The safeguard clause was activated in March 2020, at the beginning of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. It allows Member States to disregard the euro area’s budget rules which limit government deficit and public debt respectively to 3% and 60% of gross domestic product (GDP).

• 1.Will the Commission completely or partially reinstate the Stability and Growth Pact once Member States’ GDP figures return to 2019 levels, or are other criteria being explored?
• 2.Is the Commission planning to change the limits of the Stability Pact given the massive debts the Member States have?
• 3.Is the Commission planning to make the end of State aid flexibility conditional on the return of the Stability Pact?