The European Parliament today voted on the 2013 report on the Annual Growth Survey of the European Commission.

The European Parliament today voted on the 2013 report on the Annual Growth Survey of the European Commission.

After the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee rejected the report by rapporteur Mrs Ferreira (Portugal, S&D), the ECR Group formed a coalition with the EPP and ALDE and prepared an alternative report. It was this text which was approved today by the European Parliament with 329 votes in favour, 271 against and 13 abstentions.

Derk Jan Eppink, Vice President of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group and shadow rapporteur for the report, said:

“The result of the vote on the Ferreira report is a victory for common sense policies like fiscal prudence, improved competitiveness and free trade. Mrs Ferreira wanted to promote even more spending. She failed and was overturned by a majority of the ECR, EPP and ALDE. As a result she was forced to take her name off the report.

“The report as amended supports the policies we need. We cannot reduce debt by borrowing even more. Our economies cannot grow without enhanced competitiveness of our companies and Europe cannot blossom in a wave of protectionism.

“I would like to thank Mr Jean-Paul Gauzès of the EPP and Mr Philippe De Backer of ALDE for their cooperation and for their willingness to forge a coalition of the reasonable rather than to follow policies of increased state spending.”