Growth measures on top of EU pact in March: Germany

(PARIS) - Measures to boost growth will be agreed alongside the EU fiscal compact at a European summit in March, Germany's deputy foreign minister for European affairs Michael Link said on Wednesday.

The pact was approved by 25 of 27 EU member states on Monday, but has been criticised as concentrating solely on deficit-busting tactics rather than on restarting the stagnant eurozone economy.

"There will be more complementary decisions at the next European council in March," he said, after meeting his French counterpart Jean Leonetti in Paris.

Asked what might be added, he said simply that the new measures would concern growth. German policy has been widely attacked for focusing on austerity when many EU members are struggling to create jobs.

"It is very important that all partners then respect the agreement," Link said.

Aides to Leonetti stressed that the pact itself would not be modified, but additional measures could be decided.

"There may be complementary decisions on growth, during the Council on March 1 and 2 and that's what the German minister meant," an aide said, requesting anonymity.

Link arrived in Paris at a point where European budget policy has become a hot topic in the French presidential election campaign.

The incumbent, right-winger President Nicolas Sarkozy, has stuck closely to the German position, with backing from Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, but Socialist challenger Francois Hollande has criticised the pact.

In particular, he has said that if he is elected in May -- as opinion polls suggest he will be -- he will attempt to reopen negotiations on the pact to add measures to boost growth and job creation alongside deficit-trimming.