MNI BRIEF:Eurogroup To Call For Discipline As France In Crisis
MNI (BRUSSELS) - Eurozone finance ministers will call for "discipline, commitment and respect" for EU fiscal rules when they meet in Brussels on Monday, in a message which while not mentioning France’s government crisis will be meant partly as a plea to that country’s politicians, officials in Brussels told MNI.
While there will be "big discussion" on France in the room during the Eurogroup meeting it is likely to be a very live topic "in the corridors", one official said, in response to news the French government faces a confidence vote after refusing to soften plans for EUR60 billion in fiscal tightening in 2025.
"We are hoping that this is just being used as a last opportunity to play politics on the part of some and there is still a lot of trust that the system works. But they are playing with fire," another source said, with other officials expressing the hope financial markets would pressure French politicians to find a solution. (See INTERVIEW: Fiscal Contraction To Give ECB More Room To Cut)