Germany `on course'

Germany hastened to refute French suggestions yesterday that Bonn would fail to meet the Maastricht criteria this year, writes Imre Karacs in Bonn.

Responding to rumours emanating from French official circles that Bonn was on course for busting the limits, the German government's spokesman was emphatic. "Our goal is 3.0 per cent and we will reach that," Peter Hausmann said. Commenting on French efforts to qualify for European Monetary Union, the German spokesman said: "What is important is that we all do our homework. It would be inappropriate to offer any advice".