Santer warns of stalemate on economy

Date: 10/10/02

By Martin Banks

JACQUES Santer, the former European Commission president, has voiced concern over a stalemate in the Convention working group on economic governance.

The group, which is looking at how the EU's economy should work in an enlarged Europe, is due to report its findings to the main Convention in November.

But Santer, who is a member of the group, fears its conclusions may stop short of giving the Commission a greater say on EU economic policy.

The former prime minister of Luxembourg, one of the Convention's 'big hitters', said: 'I hope we can overcome the differences which currently exist within the working group and reach a consensus, but at present there is stalemate. We are not making as much progress as I would have liked.

'I firmly believe that the Commission should have a full role to play in the development of economic policy; indeed, the executive should have the power to coordinate the Union's economic guidelines. It should be at the very core of this.'

Santer led the Commission which, in 1999, was forced to resign amid allegations of cronyism and fraud.

Jacques Santer, the former European Commission president, has voiced concern over a stalemate in the European Convention working group on economic governance.

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