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Avoiding the Inappropriate: The European Commission and Sanctions under the Stability and Growth Pact
[journal article]
Abstract
Fiscal policy surveillance, including the possibility to impose financial sanctions, has been an important feature of Economic and Monetary Union since its inception. With the reform of fiscal rules in the aftermath of the financial and sovereign debt crisis, coercive provisions have been made stric... view more
Fiscal policy surveillance, including the possibility to impose financial sanctions, has been an important feature of Economic and Monetary Union since its inception. With the reform of fiscal rules in the aftermath of the financial and sovereign debt crisis, coercive provisions have been made stricter and the Commission has formally gained power vis-à-vis the Council. Nevertheless, sanctions under the Stability and Growth Pact for budgetary non-compliance have so far not been imposed. This article asks why the Commission has until now refrained from proposing such sanctions. Using minimalist process-tracing methods, three post-crisis cases in which the imposition of fines was possible, are analysed. Applying an adaptation of normative institutionalism, it is argued that the mechanism entitled "normative-strategic minimum enforcement" provides an explanation of why no sanctions are imposed in the cases studied: Given that the Commission does not perceive punitive action as appropriate, it strategically refrains from applying the enforcement provisions to their full extent.... view less
Keywords
European Commission; stabilization policy; fiscal policy; EEMU; sanction
Classification
European Politics
Economic Policy
Free Keywords
European Commission; Stability and Growth Pact; fiscal policy coordination; fiscal surveillance; logic of appropriateness; process-tracing; sanctions
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
Page/Pages
p. 163-172
Journal
Politics and Governance, 9 (2021) 2
Issue topic
Reforming the Institutions of Eurozone Governance
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed