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German Finance Minister Denies Plan to Curb European Commission’s Powers

© AFP 2023 / Emmanuel DunandHeadqurters of the European Commission in Brussels
Headqurters of the European Commission in Brussels - Sputnik International
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German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Thursday denied media reports claiming that he had proposed stripping the European Commission of some of its key powers, Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper reported.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — This came after the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) cited Brussels sources as saying that Schaeuble wanted to deprive the EU's executive body of its anti-monopoly and legal controls over the single market.

According to Die Zeit, Schaeuble only urged for "a correct balance" between the Commission’s political functions and its role as the guardian of EU treaties.

A spokeswoman for Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker defended the executive’s body role in the 28-nation bloc, saying it promoted the common interests of the European Union. She denied claims of tensions between Juncker and Schaeuble, adding that the president was interested in "all ideas that Mr. Shaeuble comes up with."

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The discussion of the European Commission’s role was prompted by the July talks on the Greek bailout. According to FAZ, the German minister said that providing financial assistance to Athens was outside the Commission's remit.

On July 12, EU finance ministers discussed the implementation of austerity reforms in debt-ridden Greece. Eurozone countries agreed to provide $95 billion to Athens over three years in exchange for tougher austerity measures.

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