EU member states will face “quasi-automatic” sanctions for breaking EU debt and deficit rules under a European Commission proposal to be released at the end of this month, meaning offending countries will need a majority of states onside to block potential fines. The proposal to overhaul the Stability and Growth Pact - part of a bid to rein in excessive spending and borrowing after the Greek debacle earlier this year - will introduce what Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn called a “reverse majority,” where the burden of proof is on the opposing country to garner support for its cause. “It’s a bit like a football game,” Rehn said on his way into a meeting of the special task force on economic governance, on 6 September. “It won’t work if the players start to discuss and argue the rules of the game every time they commit a foul, therefore sanctions should be a quasi-automatic consequence if the rules are broken.” The text will be published on 29 September, ahead of the promised report from the task force, set up by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy earlier this year. At the 6 September meeting, ministers were also expected to examine which type of sanctions - financial or otherwise - could be used in future.