Italy demanded a revamp of the EU Stability and Growth Pact to devote more attention to nurturing economic growth than curbing deficits, finding an echo of support from France.
Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi made the demand at a business conference in Milan and his finance minister, Mr Giulio Tremonti, led the charge at talks in Ireland with counterparts from other European Union countries.
"We cannot not undertake a reconsideration of the Maastricht Pact," Mr Berlusconi said, referring to the treaty that contains the basic rules behind the Stability and Growth Pact, an accord designed to ensure sound public finances and protect the euro.
"We are working together with several large states on a common project," Mr Tremonti told a news conference in Ireland after talks with colleagues at Punchestown.
Rome had its reasons for cranking up the pressure because it is planning to cut taxes to spur flagging growth and headed for a so-called "early warning" from the European Commission for a deficit that is nearing the upper limit of the EU rules.
France's newly appointed finance minister, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, made his debut at EU level with a charm offensive in which he said France would respect pledges to gets it bloated deficit back below EU limits in 2005.
But, without explaining how, he said this would have to be done "without stifling growth".
He too is under intense pressure to boost economic growth in the short-term after regional elections in which the left-wing opponents of his conservative government secured a landslide win due to voter anger over unemloyment and cost-cutting reforms.
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said the basic rules should remain the same even if there was room for improving the way the pact is implemented.
