36/2015
16 June 2015
European Social Partners and Civil Society call on EU Heads of State to
plug the democratic deficit of Economic and Monetary Union
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Henri Malosse,
has written to all Heads of State in the run-up to the European Council on 25 June urging
them to address the lack of democratic legitimacy and to improve the institutional and
political set-up of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
The EESC President's letter puts forward the Committee's Opinion on the political pillar of EMU as a
contribution to the forthcoming debate at the European Council on the so-called "Five presidents' report
on better economic governance in the euro area" expected later this month. Faced with a fragile and
incomplete EMU and the resulting degree of economic uncertainty, the Committee urges the Council to
foster sound democratic governance and put in place the necessary institutional instruments to build a
solid political framework for the Eurozone and, thus, ensure a stable investment climate and long-term
economic progress in the EU as a whole.
The EESC opinion, adopted at the end of May, points out that economic governance in the EU is
currently dominated by intergovernmental decision-making and technocratic structures, which leads to
lack of democratic legitimacy, accountability, transparency and ownership of the process. To address
this, the EESC has put forward simple and clear recommendations – to guarantee parliamentary
oversight on EMU matters, both at national and EU level; to establish progressively an EMU executive
combining the current Council and Commission powers and featuring a full-time Eurogroup president;
and to move away from paralysing unanimous voting. Some of these measures can be implemented
immediately under the existing Treaties, while others could be achieved by a more extensive use of the
enhanced cooperation procedure, also provided for in the current Treaties. In the long run, however, a
Treaty reform would be required, warns the Committee.
The EESC can play a very supportive role in this process – the social partners and civil society
organisations should be consulted and involved in the discussions as they are important actors in the
different sectors of the economy that are directly affected by EMU decision-making. The EESC can
actively facilitate civil society participation and help build a more effective economic governance
structure for the euro area and the whole EU.
The rapporteurs for the EESC opinion, Joost van Iersel (President of the ECO section, Employers' Group)
and Carmelo Cedrone (Workers' Group), have already set out the EESC's recommendations to the key
EU players in this area, meeting notably with European Commissioners Katainen, Dombrovskis and
Moscovici, the President of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Vice-President of the ECB Vítor
Constâncio, the President of the ECON Committee Roberto Gualtieri and other Members of the European
Parliament, as well as representatives of Member States.
Speaking at the EESC plenary in May, Joost van Iersel said that "it has become clear that sustainable
outcomes cannot be achieved by intergovernmental decision-making alone. More political integration of
the Eurozone is needed". Carmelo Cedrone warned that "we have built a house whose roof is missing:
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the time is ripe to complete the EMU with a much-needed political structure. The future of the EU as a
global player is at stake" and urged all political decision-makers to take swift action.
For more information, please contact:
Caroline Alibert-Deprez
EESC Press Unit
E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu
Tel: +32 2 546 9406 / Mob: +32 475 75 3202
______________________________________________________________________________
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil
society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its
members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the EU decision-making process. The Committee has
353 members from across Europe, who are appointed by the Council of the European Union.
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Tel. +32 2 546 9276 – Fax +32 25469764
E-mail: press@eesc.europa.eu – Internet: www.eesc.europa.eu
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