Germany brings budget in line with EU rules

German finance minister Peer Steinbruck has said he will give Brussels good news on his country's public finances, announcing that Berlin will comply with EU budget rules for the first time in four years.

Mr Steinbruck told the German parliament on Tuesday (5 September) that Berlin will report a budget deficit of 2.8 percent of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] in 2006 to the European Commission.

The EU's stability and growth pact, the rules underpinning the euro currency, stipulate ...