In the TV interview, Mr Chirac said he wants the Eurozone finance ministers "to examine together provisional methods for relaxing" the pact which obliges Eurozone countries to limit their budget deficit to less than 3% of GDP.

According to Mr Chirac, the ministers must find a solution which is coherent with stability requirements and which makes it possible not to decrease growth at a moment where member states are trying to revive the European economy.

The French President insisted that it was not about changing the Pact, but that the "circumstances in certain countries" must be taken into account.

France, along with Germany, is having severe problems sticking to the terms of the Pact.

Agence France Presse writes that the feeling among diplomats was that the highly controversial debate surrounding the Pact would be left until after the summer recess.

Spiegel Online quotes the Commission as saying only, "We will see what happens this evening".

Monetary Affairs Spokesperson, Gerassimos Thomas could not be drawn further, said the Online German news site.