EU to add vetting of climate results to fiscal monitoring

A European Union flag flies outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission will this year begin to assess the green transition of EU states as part of its monitoring of national budgets, a top official said, in a new sign of the bloc's commitment to meet ambitious climate goals.

The commission is responsible for making sure member countries do not overspend public resources. It annually assesses whether governments' spending, revenues and investments are reasonably balanced and do not excessively flout debt and deficit ceilings set in EU rules.