Germany wants EU court to hammer states on budgets

(BRUSSELS) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Saturday called for an EU treaty change enabling nations that live beyond their means to be hauled before the European Court of Justice, an idea that failed to win wide support.

"We urgently need changes to the treaty so we can have a real stability union," Westerwelle said during talks in Brussels between EU foreign ministers, in Brussels ahead of back-to-back summits on the debt crisis Sunday and Wednesday.

"Changes to the treaty are needed to give the stability pact some authority, to make sure there are sanctions against those who do not act in solidarity and solidity," he said, saying the pact lacked "bite."

"Perhaps there could also be a role for the European Court of Justice, to be called into action when some continually break the rules."

Westerwelle was articulating a hardline expression of Germany's insistence that all appropriate deterrents be used to ensure financial bailouts for the likes of Greece remain purely as a last resort.

Chancellor Angela Merkel already faces having to run decisions reached at European Union summits past the Bundestag's budget committee before she can sign up to EU agreements.

Berlin wants a raft of safety valves inserted into new rules being drawn up by leaders for the cross-border governance of eurozone fiscal and economic issues.

"It's not enough just to tackle the current crisis," Westerwelle added. "We also have to make sure that what we have experienced in recent months isn't allowed to keep permanently happening.

"Countries that want or need to be under the rescue shield for a long time must be prepared to give up a little bit of their sovereignty.

"For example an audit of their national budgets so that in an emergency, interventions can be made."

Westerwelle cited "broad support" despite "understandable" doubts for his suggestions, then said: "I didn't expect that today, all European countries would shout 'hurrah!'."

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, though, said re-opening the EU's rule-book, the Lisbon treaty, after a decade in the making would be to lift the lid on a "Pandora's Box" threatening the EU's very future.

Backing a Dutch suggestion to create a special EU commissioner's job to to police public finances, Westerwelle also said governments need to discuss appointing "a 'savings commissioner' and a stronger role generally for the European Commission, the EU executive.