111.   It wants to soften a German-inspired deal, known as the stability pact, that bans countries from excessive public spending after they adopt the euro.

112.   Its studies also cover Sweden, Denmark and Britain so it will be easier to include them should they adopt the euro.

113.   Jospin added, however, that governments adopting the euro will have to coordinate on budgetary, investment, and fiscal policies.

114.   Labor would also find it difficult to adopt the euro, but is more amenable about dropping the national vetos.

115.   Last month, a report in The Financial Times that Britain might adopt the euro shortly after its launch pushed share prices higher.

116.   Labor, like the Conservatives, has promised a referendum before adopting the euro.

117.   Last year, the Vatican announced that it was adopting the euro as its official currency.

118.   Manufacturers have urged the government to adopt the euro, or at least to slash British interest rates in an effort to weaken the pound.

119.   Major reiterated he will not yield to demands by a right-wing, anti-European faction in his Conservative Party to rule out Britain adopting the euro.

120.   Meanwhile, other EU nations pushed on with preparations for joining the first group to adopt the euro.