Commission sues EU states over euro rules

BRUSSELS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The European Commission Tuesday decided to take EU finance ministers to court for flouting the rules underpinning the euro.

The EU's executive arm said a November decision to let France and Germany off the hook for running up excessive budget deficits was illegal. In a controversial ruling Tuesday, it asked the European Court of Justice to overturn the finance ministers decision.

The commission's move puts it on a collision course with EU governments that have ignored pleas to cut their national debts. But the head of the Liberal grouping in the European Parliament, Graham Watson, was delighted by the hard-line stance.

"It is a high risk strategy, but one which is necessary and could reap high rewards," he said.