The European Commission on Wednesday called on Germany to bring its excessive public deficit under 3 percent of GDP by 2007 at the latest.

The commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), will ask EU finance ministers on March 14 to step up disciplinary action against Berlin after it failed to cut spending for four years running.

Germany announced last week that the country has a deficit of 3.3 percent in 2005. In addition, the deficit is projected to remain above 3 percent in 2006.

"Although the Commission welcomes the renewed priority attached by the German government to budgetary consolidation, it is clear that the procedure needs to be stepped up to guarantee a lasting correction of the deficit," said Joaquin Almunia, commissioner for economic and monetary affairs.

The 3-percent ceiling is a requirement of the Maastricht Treaty, which envisaged the creation of the single European currency, the euro. Under the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, non-euro-zone countries, such as Britain, also have to follow the deficit rules.

The EU's biggest economies, such as Germany, France, Italy and Britain, all have been in breach of the ceiling for several years running.

Source: Xinhua