Recommendation to Spain on measures to correct its excessive deficit
17.3.2016
Question for written answer E-002289-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE)
On 9 March 2016, the Commission published recommended measures for Spain to correct its excessive deficit. The proposal calls on Spain either to update its budget or to implement further reforms, and to report the changes in its 2016 stability programme. In other words, Spain is being given some two months to reduce its deficit by 0.8%. It is more than likely that there will be a caretaker government in power during this period and that, being in the midst of the investiture process, it will refuse to be audited by the new Congress of Deputies.
Does the Commission consider it reasonable to require a caretaker government to make budget adjustments of around EUR 9 billion?
Why does the recommendation ignore the present central government’s tax cuts and focus on demanding adjustments by Spain’s Autonomous Communities, even though the majority of their spending goes on social policy?
Does the Commission intend to allow Spain the flexibility provided for in the Treaties?