About: fiscal union

Italian budget standoff may consign eurozone integration drive to slow lane

An uncompromising challenge to EU budget rules by Italy is providing the first big test for reforms introduced to save the euro zone nine years ago as financial crisis threatened to tear it apart.

Moscovici: Spring 2019 is ‘too early to retire’

European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici joins EURACTIV's Economy Editor Jorge Valero for a live debate on deepening the European Economic and Monetary Union in the EURACTIV Network offices in Brussels.

Macron convinces Merkel to hold key debate on future of euro in March

Amid the political paralysis in Germany, EU leaders decided on Friday (15 December) to postpone for March a “strategic political discussion” on the future of the eurozone and adopt a 'reform roadmap' in June.

Schulz calls for ‘United States of Europe’ as SPD agrees talks with Merkel

Germany's Social Democrats, the country's second strongest party, agreed Thursday (7 December) to kick off exploratory talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives that could lead to a new coalition government early next year.

Commission wants single eurozone seat at IMF plan adopted by end of mandate

The European Commission is pushing for the adoption, by mid-2019, of the proposal to create a unified seat at the International Monetary Fund, as part of its package to strengthen the economic and monetary union presented on Wednesday (6 December).

Paris and Berlin at odds over ‘grand bargain’ to deepen eurozone

French President Emmanuel Macron's push for an ambitious overhaul of Europe's single currency bloc is running up against robust resistance in Berlin despite conciliatory public signals from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel backs Macron’s call for multi-speed EU, ‘small’ eurozone budget

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a multi-speed Europe on Tuesday (29 August), arguing that a core of "avant-garde" countries should lead the way in deepening EU integration.

Schäuble insists EU treaty change now is ‘unrealistic’

Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said on Tuesday (23 May) that it is "unrealistic" to consider changing European treaties at this stage, calling instead for incremental steps by national governments to move EU integration forward in specific areas.

Cartel-like EU must change through common interests

Now that the German-led Eurogroup has rejected the Commission’s proposal for a timid expansionary fiscal policy, it’s up to the Parliament to take a stand and defend a Eurozone fiscal capacity that would allow such expansive measures, write Ernest Maragall and Jordi Angusto.

Renzi, Merkel, Hollande to meet for EU talks post-Brexit

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande on an Italian island on Monday (22 August) to discuss the EU's way forward after Britain's shock vote to quit the bloc.

Draghi warns EU leaders he can’t fix the economy on his own

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned European leaders on Thursday (17 March) that monetary policy alone would not be enough to jump-start the economy and that governments needed to do their job by pushing through structural reforms.

Maystadt: Consensus quietly growing for eurozone budget

A consensus has emerged in Germany, France and Italy over the need to create a eurozone budget, according to Belgium’s former Minister of Finance, Philippe Maystadt. But the popularity of anti-European parties is blocking progress. EURACTIV France reports.

German, French central bankers call for eurozone finance ministry

The eurozone needs to press ahead with structural reforms and closer integration, including a eurozone finance ministry, to deliver sustainable growth, the heads of the French and German central banks wrote in a German newspaper on Monday (8 February).

Commission defends role as sole guardian of fiscal discipline

Amid growing concerns in Berlin, Frankfurt and The Hague about flexible interpretations of the Stability and Growth Pact, the European Commission ruled out the possibility of transfering the assessment of national budgets to an independent external body.

Juncker and Draghi fail to win support for eurozone reform

The piecemeal approach orchestrated by Jean-Claude Juncker and Mario Draghi to address the root causes of the euro zone debt crisis and complete the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) has not yielded any positive results so far, EURACTIV.com has learned.

EU drags on Stability and Growth Pact reform

The refugee crisis has reignited tensions between the champions of strict budgetary discipline, led by Germany, and those who want to ease interpretations of the rules, led by Italy and France.

Commission lays the groundwork for post-2017 eurozone reforms

The European Commision has started laying the groundwork for the next stage of eurozone integration, claiming there is “political appetite” in European capitals to start discussing reforms, followng the French and German elections in 2017.

Berlin and London play hardball in shaping vision for the EMU

The eurozone's rulebook and its anti-crisis mechanisms have been bolstered since the sovereign debt crisis hit Europe at the end of 2009. But serious risks still loom large, as growth potential remains low and the bloc's governance framework is “not fit for purpose”, Benoît Cœuré said after a meeting of EU finance ministers this weekend (12 September).

Berlin puts brakes on French push for eurozone fiscal transfers

Germany yesterday (1 September) put the brakes on a French push for the eurozone to appoint a new Commissioner with powers to coordinate economic policy across the bloc and preside over fiscal transfers between its 19 members.

The eurozone’s Five Presidents’ report, and what it means for Britain

Between the lines, the new ‘five presidents’ report’ on the future of EMU tells an interesting story about how eurozone leaders see their future together. Britain should take note, writes Renaud Thillaye.

Eurozone integration plans delayed by Grexit and Brexit threats

The urgency of the Greek crisis and the sensitivity of the UK to issues of eurozone integration have complicated the last-minute negotiations over the “five presidents’ report” on eurozone governance. Initially promised for earlier this month, the report will now be presented in late June. EURACTIV France reports. 

Leaked eurozone blueprint makes timid call for integration

EXCLUSIVE / A draft report by the heads of the EU's five main institutions calls for faster eurozone integration, but gives little away in terms of social policy, a key area for Southern Europe. EURACTIV France reports. 

French, German ministers flesh out plans for ‘two-speed Europe’

Emmanuel Macron and Sigmar Garbriel have called for greater fiscal and social harmonisation in the eurozone, saying other EU countries like Britain should be allowed to settle for a less integrated Union based on the single market.

Franco-German eurozone blueprint rattles Cameron

Franco-German attempts to secure changes within the Eurozone without treaty changes threaten to undermine UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s EU reform efforts.