For them, the pact's medicine of maintaining a balanced budget over the business cycle and of punishing the trespassers of the magical 3 per cent deficit rule was appropriate.

公约所开的药方是，在商业循环周期维持平衡预算，如超过重要的3%赤字规则便会受到惩罚，该规则对这些国家来说合适的。

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It includes a "balanced budget rule" that requires governments to keep deficits below 0.5% of gross domestic product, among other things.

CNN: Ireland's voters approve European fiscal treaty

Should he refuse to adopt a balanced-budget rule it is hard to imagine Mrs Merkel taking him to court.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

Although the Socialists opposed Mr Sarkozy's plan to adopt a balanced-budget amendment in the constitution, Mr Hollande promises to pass a golden rule of his own (as an ordinary law).

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne