The decision to bring the results of November's Ecofin Council on the application of the Stability Pact before the Court of Justice was not an easy one for the European Commission to make. The Commissioners' opinions differed greatly. Günter Verheugen unequivocally took position against this course of action, which he believes will make the conflict harder, with no positive outcome (see our bulletin of 13 January, p.10). Other Commissioners spoke just as unambiguously, but in more...