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Parliamentary question - E-010943/2013Parliamentary question
E-010943/2013

Changes to the methodology for calculating Member States' structural deficits

Question for written answer E-010943-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Corien Wortmann-Kool (PPE)

On 19 September 2013, the Wall Street Journal and several other news sources reported that EU officials in the Commission’s Output Gaps Working Group had tentatively approved a change in the methodology used to calculate Member States’ structural deficits[1]. The Wall Street Journal also reported that the new methodology was expected to have a very substantial impact on the deficits of some Member States, for example halving Spain’s estimated structural deficit for this year and cutting it by two thirds in 2014.

1. Is the Commission aware of the Wall Street Journal article?

2. Does the Commission agree that technical changes to the methodologies underpinning the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) which could have a significant impact require the full involvement not only of Member State officials, but also of the European Parliament in its capacity as co‐legislator of the revised SGP (‘six-pack’)? If not, why not?

3. Does the Commission agree that technical changes on this scale are a risk to the credibility of the revised SGP?

4. Can the Commission clarify the reasons for the revision of the current methodology?

5. Can the Commission publish details of the estimated impact of the revised methodology on the current output gaps and deficits of all Member States?

6. Can the Commission clarify the expected impact of the revised methodology on the policy recommendations that various Member States have received under the Excessive Deficit Procedure?

OJ C 208, 03/07/2014