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Avoiding the Inappropriate: The European Commission and Sanctions under the Stability and Growth Pact

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  • Martin Sacher

    (Institute of Political Science, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg)

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 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Sacher, 2021. "Avoiding the Inappropriate: The European Commission and Sanctions under the Stability and Growth Pact," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 163-172.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:9:y:2021:i:2:p:163-172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Seikel, 2016. "Flexible Austerity and Supranational Autonomy. The Reformed Excessive Deficit Procedure and the Asymmetry between Liberalization and Social Regulation in the EU," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(6), pages 1398-1416, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna-Lena Högenauer & Moritz Rehm, 2021. "Reforming the Institutions of Eurozone Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 159-162.
    2. Mark Dawson & Adina Maricut‐Akbik, 2023. "Accountability in the EU's para‐regulatory state: The case of the Economic and Monetary Union," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(1), pages 142-157, January.

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