Rutte: Supervision of budget agreements EU countries

'We have fallen on hard times with the euro.

That means that in the short term we have to make repairs and in the long term that we have to prevent further damage.' According to Prime Minister Rutte, referring to the letter to the Lower House of Parliament in which the Government states its views on the future of the economic and monetary union.

The Government wants to take stronger action against countries in the euro zone which do not comply with the joint budget agreements. Rutte emphasized: ‘The motto should be: stick to what is agreed. Only in that case can we guarantee a strong currency and prosperity.'

When countries fail to comply with the agreements, they should be forced to, the Prime Minister explained. This can be achieved by:

• tougher, more automatic sanctions,
• independent supervision by a budget-discipline commissioner,
• the obligation to take measures when it is imminent that the budget is getting out of hand,
• no longer providing European subsidies to countries which fail to comply with the agreements,
• placing countries under guardianship and possibly taking away their right to vote.

If a country does not wish to be placed under guardianship, it should decide to make use of the possibility to opt out of the euro zone, according to the Government. 'Whoever wants to be part of the euro zone should stick to the agreements.'