ENTERPRISE Minister Mary Harney and European Parliament President Pat Cox both indicated Europe should not move against France and Germany if they continue to breach the eurozone’s Growth and Stability Pact.

The European Commission has taken the finance ministers' council to the European Court of Justice in a long-running case involving a preferential Belgian tax regime for company headquarters, daily paper, Le Soir has reported, citing the commission.

German Finance Minister Hans Eichel said it is highly desirable that the three EU members not currently part of the euro zone - the UK, Sweden and Denmark - adopt the euro after enlargement of the EU.