Plans by France and Germany to improve economic competitiveness in the euro zone risk creating a "two-speed Europe" that closes the door to non-euro countries, the currency area's budget chief said today.

In an interview with Britain's Times newspaper, Janusz Lewandowski urged core euro zone members to involve other European Union countries in talks to strengthen governance.

"Developments are being watched with some nervousness in Warsaw and other capitals," he told The Times.

"We need a discussion on how to avoid a two-speed Europe."

Germany and France, the two biggest euro zone economies, are hoping to win back market confidence in the region's public finances through a "pact for competitiveness".

The measures they want the euro zone and other countries to sign up to include a higher retirement age and limits on debt levels.

Mr Lewandowski said the impression at the moment is that "the door to this internal club could be closed". He said one solution may be "partial affiliation" to the euro zone so that future members can benefit from financial stability mechanisms.

Countries which have said they will eventually join the euro, such as Hungary and Poland, "should feel like they are part of discussion over the future of the euro zone, because this is their destination," Mr Lewandowski said.

"It is very difficult to have the door to the euro zone half-open for non-euro zone countries."

Reuters