Zalm: Dutch will not break Stability Pact

Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm reiterated yesterday that the Netherlands will not break the EU stability and growth pact.

Speaking in the Dutch parliament, Mr Zalm stated that the most recent figures show that the Dutch budget deficit in 2003 will not hit the three percent ceiling allowed by the EU stability pact, the rules that underpin the euro currency.

Mr Zalm said, according to Dutch press agency ANP, that the newest figures even projected a deficit of less than the 2.7...