<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"1.How can the statement made by the European Commission on 24 September 2002 about a relaxation of the rules governing the reduction of budget deficits be reconciled with another statement it made on the same day that there will be no tampering with the Stability Pact, and is the European Commission aware that, in taking that position, it was acting against the spirit of the Stability Pact and, consequently, inflicting serious damage on consumer confidence, which is already low?  2.Can the European Commission clarify how it will explain to Irish citizens why their country received a warning earlier this year, while Germany, a """"""""big"""""""" Member State, did not and why now, for the second time within a period of a few months, some """"""""big"""""""" Member States — France and Italy — will not have to comply with their obligations under the Stability Pact, and can the European Commission confirm that a twin-track policy is being pursued within the euro area, with the """"""""big"""""""" Member States being able to ignore agreements but not the """"""""little"""""""" Member States?  3.How can the European Commission's current position be reconciled with the press release dated 14 May 2002 issued by Commissioner Solbes, in which he """"""""urged the Member States … to make a last effort to reach a close to balance by 2004. … Stability should become the acquis for the euro area and Europe. … The process of budgetary consolidations needs to resume as soon as possible. Otherwise we will be forever in a transition period and would be impossible to milk the full benefits of our economic policy"""""""". (sic)"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [1]. </s>
1.How can the statement made by the European Commission on 24 September 2002 about a relaxation of the rules governing the reduction of budget deficits be reconciled with another statement it made on the same day that there will be no tampering with the Stability Pact, and is the European Commission aware that, in taking that position, it was acting against the spirit of the Stability Pact and, consequently, inflicting serious damage on consumer confidence, which is already low?  2.Can the European Commission clarify how it will explain to Irish citizens why their country received a warning earlier this year, while Germany, a """"""""big"""""""" Member State, did not and why now, for the second time within a period of a few months, some """"""""big"""""""" Member States — France and Italy — will not have to comply with their obligations under the Stability Pact, and can the European Commission confirm that a twin-track policy is being pursued within the euro area, with the """"""""big"""""""" Member States being able to ignore agreements but not the """"""""little"""""""" Member States?  3.How can the European Commission's current position be reconciled with the press release dated 14 May 2002 issued by Commissioner Solbes, in which he """"""""urged the Member States … to make a last effort to reach a close to balance by 2004. … Stability should become the acquis for the euro area and Europe. … The process of budgetary consolidations needs to resume as soon as possible. Otherwise we will be forever in a transition period and would be impossible to milk the full benefits of our economic policy"""""""". (sic)