On Monday (8 September), The Netherlands repeated its harsh criticism of the large budget deficits of Germany and France. In a TV interview, German finance minister Hans Eichel admitted that it will be very difficult to get the country's budget deficit under three percent in 2004.
That would mean that Germany in 2004 will have violated the Stability Pact for three years running.
Dutch finance minister Gerit Zalm said, according to Svenska Dagbladet: "There are two roads you could ...
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