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EU unveils its vision for the future of monetary union EU unveils its vision for the future of monetary union
(about 4 hours later)
European authorities have unveiled their vision for the future, which gives them much greater powers.European authorities have unveiled their vision for the future, which gives them much greater powers.
It includes the creation of a European treasury, which would have powers over national budgets.It includes the creation of a European treasury, which would have powers over national budgets.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was "a defining moment for European integration".European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was "a defining moment for European integration".
href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/131201.pdf" >The document, released ahead of Thursday's EU summit, said greater fiscal union could lead to common debt being issued by eurozone countries. Described as a 10-year plan, it is designed to strengthen the eurozone and prevent future crises, as countries grapple with current debt problems.
This week, some markets fell sharply on fears that leaders at the EU summit on Thursday and Friday would fail to agree immediate measures to try to stem the current crisis.
The governor of the Bank of England, Sir Mervyn King, expressed concern about the recent response of European authorities.
"I am pessimistic. I am particularly concerned because over two years now we have seen the situation in the euro area get worse and the problem being pushed down the road," he said, while appearing at a parliamentary hearing.
The latest document, titled Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union, was released by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and was drawn up with the presidents of the European Commission, the Eurogroup and the European Central Bank.
Eurogroup president Mr Van Rompuy said it was "not meant to be a final blueprint", but that he expected "to reach a common understanding amongst us on the way forward" at the EU summit.
'Responsibility'
The document said greater fiscal union could lead to common debt being issued by eurozone countries.
This approach could overcome German resistance to the issue of eurobonds, which help weaker countries to borrow more cheaply, but require stronger countries to take on the risk.
There would also be banking union, with a single European banking regulator and a unified deposit guarantee scheme.There would also be banking union, with a single European banking regulator and a unified deposit guarantee scheme.
The document was released by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and was drawn up with the presidents of the European Commission, the Eurogroup and the European Central Bank.
Mr Van Rompuy said it was "not meant to be a final blueprint", but that he expected "to reach a common understanding amongst us on the way forward" at Thursday and Friday's summit.
Mr Barroso said the guiding principle was that "greater solidarity and greater responsibility must go hand in hand".Mr Barroso said the guiding principle was that "greater solidarity and greater responsibility must go hand in hand".
Proposals in the report included:Proposals in the report included:
  • Limits on the amount of debt individual countries can take on
  • Annual national budgets can be vetoed if they are likely to mean a country exceeding its debt limits
  • The eurozone borrowing money collectively "could be explored"
  • A European treasury office to be set up to control a central budget and keep an eye on national ones
  • A single European banking regulator and a common scheme guaranteeing bank deposits
  • Common policies on employment regulations and levels of taxation
  • Joint decision-making with national parliaments to give it "democratic legitimacy".
  • Limits on the amount of debt individual countries can take on
  • Annual national budgets can be vetoed if they are likely to mean a country exceeding its debt limits
  • The eurozone borrowing money collectively "could be explored"
  • A European treasury office to be set up to control a central budget and keep an eye on national ones
  • A single European banking regulator and a common scheme guaranteeing bank deposits
  • Common policies on employment regulations and levels of taxation
  • Joint decision-making with national parliaments to give it "democratic legitimacy"
Earlier, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble also called for there to be a European finance minister, with the power to veto national budgets as well as an elected president of Europe.Earlier, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble also called for there to be a European finance minister, with the power to veto national budgets as well as an elected president of Europe.
French, German, Spanish and Italian finance ministers are meeting on Tuesday to discuss closer union. One of the big changes under the new proposals is that while in the past eurozone members had to keep their budget deficits below a certain level, a European treasury would be able to force them to make changes to their budgets to keep their deficits down.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici has said Thursday's EU summit should, "lay the groundwork for the second phase of the euro". The measures advocated by the four main European authorities would need treaty changes and approval by national parliaments.
French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici has said leaders at this week's summit should, "lay the groundwork for the second phase of the euro".
However, as BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt points out, the area's two biggest economies "are on different pages".
"It has generally been true that the European project has been driven forward when France and Germany are in step.
"They are not at the moment. There is a deep philosophical and political divide between them," our correspondent says.
Others were also sceptical about what might be achieved at the summit.
"Such proposals are just bureaucratic fine-tuning, rather than game-changing policies," said analyst Neil MacKinnon of VTB Capital.
"As a result, the EU summit will likely produce re-hashed plans for closer fiscal integration and a banking union but without any substantive detail of how it will actually be put into practice."
Joint borrowing Crisis jargon buster Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of key financial terms:
AAA-rating The best credit rating that can be given to a borrower's debts, indicating that the risk of borrowing defaulting is minuscule. Glossary in full		Joint borrowing Crisis jargon buster Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of key financial terms:
AAA-rating The best credit rating that can be given to a borrower's debts, indicating that the risk of borrowing defaulting is minuscule. Glossary in full
Many governments outside the eurozone have called on it to issue eurobonds, which would be a way to allow countries that are currently unable to borrow money commercially to borrow at low interest rates. Meanwhile Spain's cost of borrowing has risen again, as it negotiates the terms of a bailout for its banking sector worth up to 100bn euros.
Many governments outside the eurozone have called for the issue of eurobonds.
But some countries, especially Germany, have resisted this step unless there is much closer fiscal union.But some countries, especially Germany, have resisted this step unless there is much closer fiscal union.
The reason for that is that eurobonds would have much the same effect as the original introduction of the euro, which is that they would allow many governments access to cheaper loans.The reason for that is that eurobonds would have much the same effect as the original introduction of the euro, which is that they would allow many governments access to cheaper loans.
There is therefore concern that without European control over budgets, some countries would again take on unsustainable levels of debt.There is therefore concern that without European control over budgets, some countries would again take on unsustainable levels of debt.
One of the big changes under the new proposals is that while in the past eurozone members had to keep their budget deficits below a certain level, a European treasury will now be able to force them to make changes to their budgets to keep their deficits down. Are you in the EU? What are your thoughts on these plans? What should the future of the eurozone look like? You can send us your thoughts using the form below.