REACTION:THE EUROPEAN Commission said the leaking in Berlin of confidential details from the next two Irish budgets was a matter for Germany and no other authority.
Dublin has filed a complaint to the commission over the release of sensitive Government update on the bailout, which detail taxes to be imposed in the next two years.
The Government sent the documents to the commission, which then sent them for inspection in the finance ministries of euro zone countries before Ireland’s next tranche of bailout loans are paid.
The German ministry gave the files to a number of MPs because a parliamentary committee oversees Berlin’s participation in euro zone bailouts.
“We understand the Irish authorities are upset. Any leak of confidential information is regrettable,” said the spokesman for EU economics commissioner Olli Rehn.
However, he insisted the commission’s role was limited to the transmission of the documents in line with its duties connected to the bailout. .
“We share the relevant information with the ministries of finance. What happens next is their sole responsibility,” he said.
“We share the information exclusively with the ministries of finance. Of course this is to be treated confidentially and it is the basis for the member states to decide on the next instalment. That’s how it happens.” According to the commission, what happens once such information goes to the budget committee of the Bundestag is the “sole responsibility” of the German authorities.
The commission does not plan to take the matter up with Berlin or take any further action, Mr Rehn’s spokesman said. The proposals were confidential and they were in draft form.
“These documents – I want to underline that – were not final. They were not signed by the Irish Government. In other words, decisions on the Irish budget have not been taken yet,” the spokesman added.
