Published on 12:00 AM, April 14, 2019

Growing EU policy disputes could undermine common currency: France

Widening differences over economic policy among euro area countries are "unsustainable" and could undermine the currency union itself, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Friday.

"There isn't enough solidarity in the eurozone," Le Maire told reporters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings.

"Growing economic divisions among member states are unsustainable in the long term and could result in the disappearance of the common currency project."

"Countries with solid budgets must invest more," Le Maire said.

That was the same message pushed by the IMF itself, which on Friday again urged Germany in particular to boost spending in order to accelerate growth a raise wages, and reduce its budget and trade surpluses.

Le Maire said "Those with the means shouldn't hoard money for years and years, allowing growth to deteriorate."