18 ordspråk av Joaquin Almunia
Joaquin Almunia
After the revision last year, I think from the political point of view the commission and the ministers have learned a lot about the importance of establishing good dialogue channels to avoid these kinds of conflicts.
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Although the (European) Commission welcomes the renewed priority attached by the German government to budgetary consolidation, it is clear that the procedure needs to be stepped up to guarantee a lasting correction of the deficit.
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I am optimistic about the economic recovery.
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I have asked (commission economists) to give me interim forecasts twice a year as well as the standard forecasts that we get twice a year.
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I think everybody agrees that the Commission is enforcing competition rules with absolute independence.
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Of course there is a risk there but so far we have not quantified these risks in these forecasts.
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Our main priority is to confirm the Lisbon strategy (a program for broad economic reform in Europe) should be implemented.
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The European Commission has no legal power to avoid the enacting of some measures on a national level because this is not illegal,
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The exchange rate is not a problem.
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The impact is real,
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There is no exemption for Germany, and we will consider the case, as well as the French case, later,
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There was a downward risk presented by the evolution of oil prices and this risk has materialized in the last month.
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These examples should encourage other countries, such as Greece, France and Portugal, to pursue the efforts to bring their public finances in order.
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Throwing sand into the wheels of deeper international economic integration in order to reduce adjustment costs, as contemplated by some, is not an attractive option.
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Upon closer inspection many of the allegedly negative implications of rising international trade and investment for jobs, wages and living standards are belied by the evidence,
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