Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said that Eurozone rules automatically advantage the stronger members to the detriment of the weaker. The fundamental problem facing the eurozone is the lack of a political will to accept that the growing divergences within the eurozone have to be first of all recognised and corrected through a new political agreement.

Dr Sant made this explanation of vote at the Plenary of the European Parliament when he voted against the report "Joint debate - Future of the EU: Budgetary capacity for the Eurozone" during a series of debates on the future of Europe. The report does not make any reference to the will for a new political agreement on removing the existing economic divergencies between the European centre and its peripheries.

The fundamental problem, said Dr Sant, is not the Eurozone design, though this needs to be considered. Divergences have resulted, and are growing, due to a too fast and blinkered development of the eurozone project, on the back of the EU’s soft power and in disregard of the impact of globalisation. Dr Sant said such a situation can only be corrected though political action notthrough the addition of new rules to the system.

While having every respect for the competence and dedication of the rapporteurs, "I consider the exercise that they undertook to define the parameters of a budgetary capacity for the eurozone as technically interesting but politically premature.

“Though technically insightful, the budgetary capacity additions being proposed will indeed serve to enhance divergences, not reduce them, in the absence of a new political agreement. Unfortunately the current exercise amounts to one in which the cart is being put before the horse. I cannot support it.” said Dr Sant.

The debate on a Budgetary capacity for the Eurozone was followed by a vote which passed with 340 in favour, 255 against and 68 abstentions.