Could Portugal and Spain be sanctioned over breaking budget rules?
Spain and Portugal risk fiscal sanctions over their excessive deficits yet the German finance ministry seems less than keen on hitting both countries with them. When asked about sanctions, a finance ministry official said; "Generally speaking, rules must be adhered to".
Meanwhile, Portugal's Costa has said his government would fight to avoid any sanctions.
As we've seen time and time again in Europe, rules mean everything, until they have to be applied.
