BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Italy's new Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Tuesday that she saw no contradiction between budgetary discipline and the goal of economic growth.
"For us in Germany, budgetary consolidation and growth are not at cross-purposes but have to go hand in hand to lead to greater competitiveness and therefore more jobs," Merkel told a joint news conference ahead of private talks with the centre-left Italian leader, who has criticised her austerity policies.
Merkel laid out Germany's case, saying the aim was for "Europe to emerge stronger from the crisis" than before and to restore confidence, with every country handling its unique challenges.
Italy "has already come a long way," she said.
She said fighting unemployment was the "core issue" for Europe and would require more investment, "breathing space" for companies and less bureaucracy.
Letta said that Italy, after two months of political deadlock, "is emerging stronger from this crisis" and pledged the country would "stick to the path of budget consolidation and fixing public finances."
"As we have said all these months, regarding the commitments every country has toward the EU, we have done our part," he said, according to a German translation.
Merkel wished Letta "a truly lucky hand" with his new government and said she looked forward to intense cooperation.
<Center><b><i>Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2013</b></i></center>
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