Chirac, Schroeder agree EU spending should be capped

French President Jacques Chirac said he and Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder agreed at a meeting today there should be no “excessive” increase in the European Union’s budget.

Chirac, speaking after the meeting, also called for pragmatism from British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the question of Britain’s rebate, saying “our British friends should take stock of changes” regarding the contentious issue.