EN
Lessons learned from the period of the euro area fiscal policy, especially the last global financial crisis prompted the European Union to seek new institutions and instruments. In terms of instruments appeared (in November 2011), the concept issue of Stability Bonds (Eurobonds). The Stability Bonds are sovereign bonds issued by Member States of the euro area through a common debt management office. Thereupon, the debt management office distributes the proceeds to Member States. The Commission presents three options for the implementation of Eurobonds and puts up for discussion the related pros and cons. With regard to the pros it mentions in particular the alleviation of the current debt crisis, the stabilisation of the banking system and the increased liquidity of the government bonds market. With regard to the cons it mentions the reduced incentives for budgetary discipline. For instance, Member States can run up debts at the expense of the budgetary discipline of other Member States, without this having an affect on their financing costs.The aim of this paper is to attempt to assess the development of the public debt in the euro area and the relevance of the issue and the potential consequences of Stability Bonds.