Germany insists on EU budget rules, but also 'solidarity'

(FRANKFURT) - German Finance Ministe Wolfgang Schaeuble urged eurozone countries on Friday to stick to Europe's budget rules, but also to show solidarity to partner countries in difficulty.

"All of us must make sure that we stick to the European rules," Schaeuble told German public radio Deutschlandfunk in an interview.

Every country was "jointly responsible for ensuring that growth picks up," the minister said.

But he added: "We know that some of our most important partners are currently in a more difficult situation than we are. We know that we have a joint responsibility and that we must show solidarity."

The European Commission on Friday gave France, Italy and Belgium until March to fix their budgets or risk humiliating penalties for breaking tough eurozone spending rules.