German Chancellor Angela
Merkel on Monday told a joint press conference with French
Premier Manuel Valls that "what has been agreed upon must be
respected", citing the European Union's stability pact "which
contains some flexibility".
"I see great efforts made by France and they will be
evaluated by the European Commission", she added.
Merkel is hosting Valls in Berlin on Monday as France
resists demands to narrow its budget deficit in a stagnant
economy.
The pact requires member States to maintain their budget
deficits within 3% of their total gross domestic product (GDP).
The euro zone's two largest economies are at odds on
strategies to spur growth.
Leaders including Italian Premier Matteo Renzi have been
urging greater openness within the pact to such measures as
increased investment spending to stimulate economic recovery.
Merkel has said she is "open" to greater flexibility within
the European Union's stability pact, so long as the basic rules
are obeyed
Valls has stated he will "not beg" during his trip to
Germany, which will also include a speech to Germani
entrepreneurs.
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