§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the proposals outlined on 12 November by the President of the European Commission on(a) EU budgetary powers and (b) the growth and stability pact. [15931]
§ Ruth KellyMr. Prodi's speech is part of the on-going debate on the future of Europe.
On budgetary issues the Government's position is clear. At ECOFIN on 10 July several Finance Ministers, including my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, rejected ideas for a euro tax. It has been made clear that the Government do not support, and have no plans to impose, a harmonised tax on their citizens. Any proposal for a euro tax would have to be agreed unanimously by member states.
On fiscal policies in the EU, the Government will assess carefully any proposals for a further Code of Conduct one they are presented by the European Commission.