French Finance Minister Le Maire Stirs Discord With Two-Speed Pitch for EU Markets Unity

  • Le Maire says small club of states could drive markets push
  • German finance minister says EU-wide initiative is priority

Bruno Le Maire

Photographer: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images
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French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire slammed the European Union for making only sluggish progress in bolstering capital markets, raising tensions over a project officials say is crucial to avoid prolonged economic weakness.

Speaking before a discussion with EU peers in Ghent, Belgium, on how to advance capital markets union among the bloc’s 27 member states, Le Maire instead proposed that a small group of countries forge ahead alone.