French urge Britain to speed entry to the euro

FRANCE - The French government has made a private plea to senior British MPs to speed British entry to the euro, promising flexibility in negotiations on the terms of British entry.

In talks with MPs last week, the new French finance minister, Francois Mer, said he wanted Britain to be inside the euro, stressing, according to those present, that this would encourage a flexible interpretation of the EU's growth and stability pact, the rules that set limits to national government spending, the U