1.   Besides the deficit ceiling, the treaty sets targets for total debt, inflation, interest rates and currency stability.

2.   It wants the fines to start no more than six months after a country exceeds the deficit ceiling.

3.   The Bundesbank urged the government to make further spending cuts, warning that extra subsidies to the Federal Labor Office could result in missing the deficit ceiling.

4.   The requirements include limits on inflation, long-term interest rates and exchange-rate fluctuations, as well as the budget deficit ceiling.

5.   The deficit ceiling was required under the reform program drawn up with the IMF, which in turn was a prerequisite for the big loan.