Germany warns EU countries „not to joke“ around with financial markets over „the credibility of public finances“, days before France is due to present its national budget for 2025. „We must credibly reduce our deficit and our debt in order to be able to finance ourselves in an adequate and stable manner,“ says German Finance Minister Christian Lindner, speaking to reporters in Luxembourg without directly addressing France, which must rein in its ballooning deficit to adhere to EU budget rules. SOUNDBITE