Council Moves Towards Parl't Stance As Fiscal Rule Deal Nears

With trilogue talks between representatives of the European Council, Parliament, and Commission taking place presently regarding the European Union's fiscal rules, Gegorio Sorgi at Politico posts on X: "Council finally makes a move towards Parliament on EU fiscal rules, after days of deadlock. The [Belgian] presidency told MEPs that it is ready to shift its red lines on public investments. There is some hope of striking a deal in today's trilogue"

• This would appear to back up the report from MNI's Policy team published on 8 Feb (see 'MNI: EU Nears Fiscal rules Deal In Trilogue Tals - Sources", 8 Feb 0902GMT). With regard to the 'red lines on public investments' noted by Politico above, MNI reported that "Representatives of the European parliament are insisting on easier treatment for investment as the price for accepting tougher rules limiting budget deficits to 1.5% of GDP over the medium term which were agreed by member states Dec 20."
• Indeed, in January MNI interviewed Portuguese Socialist group MEP Margarida Marques regardnig the Parliament's stance on fiscal rules (see 'MNI Interview: EP Takes Aim At "Stricter" EU Fiscal Rules", 17 Jan, 1605GMT). Indeed, despite the differences between the institutions, Marques noted that "reaching an agreement was a matter of urgency and that she does not want to see a return to the old rules. The parliament is “very committed” to getting a “landing zone” by mid-February as urged by the Belgian EU presidency, she said"
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