Germany's finance minister urges EU-wide compliance with bloc's fiscal rules

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSEL (AA) — Every EU member country is expected to abide by the bloc's fiscal rules, Germany's finance minister said on Monday.

Christian Lindner singled out France during an EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels, where he said all future governments of the neighboring country would have to be careful about complying with the fiscal rules, especially since it has not reduced its budget deficit as they require.

The EU imposes limits to national public deficits and debt of member states through fiscal rules.

However, a significant number of EU nations do not abide by these rules, nor do they abide by fines and penalties exceeding these set limits.

In addition, Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe stressed that they would also discuss the appropriate budgetary policy for 2025 in the eurozone.

"The future of the single market and the competitiveness of the EU will be discussed and Bulgaria's stage in the process of accession to the Eurozone will be assessed," he added.

*Writing by Sahika Olgun from Istanbul