The concerns expressed in the draft recommendation are based on the wrong premise. The Commission's assessment and the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines advises Ireland to seek to achieve economic stability. This is exactly what the Irish government has sought to do in the budget in a number of ways, |
The danger is, if we're not very frank and strong about this, there will be tit-for-tat arrangements. You get into a situation where it becomes an epidemic. |
These licenses will make it easier for new European-based online services to take off, |
They will also increase cross-border competition to the benefit of investors and issuers alike. |
This has allowed us to move on from allegations on the lowering of social standards and threats to the European social model. |
This will not be allowed, because it would spell the end of the free market as we know it, |
We have not yet reached any definitive view on the precise measures we would propose to remedy this situation. |
We made it quite clear to the French authorities that it can only be in very specific, limited circumstances, |
We should proceed against all these countries. |
We wrote to them yesterday and we are waiting for more answers. |
With the broad consensus reached on key aspects of this proposal the European Parliament has provided us with a solid basis for going forward. |
You could make the case that this is part of a big battle, which is going to get worse. |