Caretaker finance minister says no decision made on EU control of national budgets

The caretaker finance minister, Eduard Janota, has rejected accusations that he had overstepped his mandate at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Luxembourg this week. Mr. Janota came under fire from President Klaus and the Civic Democratic party for having thrown his weight behind a proposal that the EU should have control over national budgets. Mr. Janota countered that while he had expressed an opinion on the subject there had been no vote on the issue and no decision had been taken. The proposal will now be discussed by heads of state and government of EU member states.