21.   He violated a taboo by calling for a flexible interpretation of the economic convergence criteria.

22.   If the predictions are correct, Britain will fulfill the convergence criteria for European monetary union outlined in the Maastricht treaty.

23.   In any case, he doubted that Britain would meet the convergence criteria for a single currency.

24.   In particular he said Sunday that a socialist-led government would reject the strict convergence criteria for European Monetary Union if they threatened the French economy.

25.   Issing added that for the time being, a large number of participants in monetary union could only be attained by suspending the convergence criteria.

26.   Ireland is one of the few European countries to meet the convergence criteria for monetary union as stipulated in the Maastricht Treaty.

27.   A stability pact must not lead to loosening the economic convergence criteria, he said.

28.   According to the economic convergence criteria set out under Maastricht, the public deficit must not exceed three percent of GDP.

29.   Along with Luxembourg, it is the only EU member state currently meeting Maastricht treaty convergence criteria for a single currency.

30.   And Major said Britain would not adopt the euro if it was not satisfied that strict convergence criteria for the single currency had been observed.