18/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - Stigmatised in France's pre-electoral election debate, the European Central Bank (ECB) should, according to Jacques Chirac, maintain its independence or change its rules. These comments were made at the end of Friday's European Council. Asked about criticism made by some French figures of the Frankfurt institution, the French president said, “as things currently stand, the rules should be changed but no-one appears to be requesting this or respecting the rules”. He explained that “consequently, I respect the rules, notably that of the Central Bank and Euro-zone”. The Luxembourg prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, who also chairs Eurogroup, stated, “there is no question of us putting our hands on the ECB”. (ab)