French officials warn Hollande against questioning EU treaty

(PARIS) - French officials on Tuesday warned Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande against renegotiating a treaty aimed at resolving the eurozone debt crisis.

A deal at a European Union summit on Monday saw 25 of 27 EU states joining a German-led pact tightening budget discipline across Europe and an agreement on a permanent rescue fund for the eurozone.

A treaty cementing the deal is to be signed at an EU summit in March and then face a long period of ratification.

Hollande, who opinion polls show well ahead of President Nicolas Sarkozy with less than three months before the first round of a presidential election, has warned that he would seek to renegotiate the treaty.

But Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told Europe 1 radio that it would be irresponsible to open the treaty again.

"The president's signature naturally commits France," he said.

"If ever there is a change of government... we will see if France retracts its signature. I think this would be very, very damaging to the interests of our country and of Europe."

European Affairs Minister Jean Leonetti also said it would be "nonsensical" for France to back out of the treaty.

"Treaties are not renegotiated," he said. "France's signature is not renegotiated when there is a change of government."

Hollande has said he wants the treaty renegotiated to deal more specifically with economic growth and jobs.

All EU countries except Britain and the Czech Republic signed on to the new pact on budgetary discipline.

Pushed by Germany and the European Central Bank, the treaty will require governments to introduce laws on balanced budgets and impose near automatic sanctions on countries that violate deficit rules.

Only those countries that sign up will be able to access bailout aid from a new rescue fund whose legal basis was also established at the talks. It will enter force after 12 nations ratify it.