Germany urges EU leaders to show flexibility

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expects his fellow European leaders to show flexibility on the EU’s future budget and live up to “the significance of the situation” at this week’s summit, a spokesman for the German leader said today.

During a round of crisis diplomacy over recent days, Schroeder has repeatedly urged his counterparts to set aside “national egotism” and reach agreement on EU funding. Still, spokesman Thomas Steg said he couldn’t predict whether a deal would be reached.