France urges creation of minister for eurozone

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici called on Friday for the creation of a “minister” who would “embody” the eurozone and would be accountable to citizens. Moscovici, speaking at a high-level symposium at the finance ministry, said: “In the medium term, we must embody the eurozone in a minister who must be able, in one way or another, to face up to the sanction of votes by citizens.” Moscovici was quick to explain that his proposal was not for a “super commissioner”. He said: “The presidency of the Eurogroup (eurozone finance ministers) is a function which must evolve.” He also said he favoured the creation at the European parliament of a “committee of members elected by citizens in the eurozone” to “play a real role of joint legislator in the drafting of economic policy for the eurozone, in a sort of counterweight to the Eurogroup.” But he also explained that he did not have in mind the creation of a “parliament for the eurozone.” Moscovici said: “The current model works badly. It is not suitable. Our citizens do not understand it. It is too far away from the mechanisms of national control.” Moscovici called for “the strengthening of democratic control of decisions taken for the eurozone.” Moscovici said: “We need more solidarity to reduce the heterogeneous nature of the eurozone. He argued: “The European crisis is first and foremost a crisis of integration. It is not the crisis...of an excess of Europe. I say this to all those who dream of a departure, of a weakening.” He said: “It is a crisis of a lack of Europe.”