“We want a financial transaction tax. We want Eurobonds. We want a European rating agency”. The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, dictates the line by marking what in his opinion are the tools to deal with the crisis. In his opening speech at the EU Council summit, Van Rompy recalls that last March "an overwhelming majority of MEPs had this idea" of introducing a Tobin tax, and that it would be more appropriate than ever to introduce it "for equity". For Van Rompuy, in fact, "those who caused the crisis cannot be allowed to escape with billions of bonuses in their wallets".
As for the Stability bonds, the president of the EU Council has no doubts that "they will be able to mitigate the debt crisis and stabilize the banking system". Eurobonds are essentially "an effective weapon against speculation". Finally, "a European rating agency is needed to curb the US monopoly" and to have a body that "disseminates its judgments on the basis of clear criteria".
The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, follows the same line as Van Rompuy, who suggests "increasing European revenue through a tax on financial transactions". Yes also to Eurobonds: "Stability bonds reduce the spread", he claims. It remains to be clarified how the states will respond to these solicitations: in fact, Great Britain is opposed to the introduction of a Tobin tax, while Germany views recourse to Eurobonds with diffidence.
