BERLIN (MNI) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she is
optimistic that Eurozone member states will agree ahead of the next EU
summit in March on ways to make their economies more competitive.
Today’s EU summit was already “very successful,” given that there
was a principal agreement reached on a pact for more competitiveness
proposed by Germany and France, Merkel told reporters in Brussels.
However, no details were agreed today, the Chancellor stressed.
Eurozone leaders will meet before next EU summit, scheduled for March
24-25 — but not before March 9, when the new Irish government is likely
to come into office, Merkel said. At that next informal Eurozone
meeting, the details of the new pact are to be discussed, she said.
“I’m very optimistic that we will find an agreement,” Merkel said.
The details are then to be formally adopted at the March EU summit. EU
members that are not part of the Eurozone can then decide if they want
to join in the pact, she said.
–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com
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