Meanwhile the euro nations must wrestle with the great mistake.

There are no bright spots among the large euro nations.

Across the 11 euro nations, consumer prices climbed at an annual rate of 2 percent in January.

Nor has Germany been helped by the euro nations' uniform monetary policy.

But the rate, which is intended to benefit the interest of the 12 euro nations as a whole, is arguably still too high for Germany.

All this comes after the first year of strong economic growth by all 11 euro nations since 1994.

The 11 euro nations agreed last month to start the euro with an interest rate target of 3 percent.

The peripheral smaller euro nations are still a real concern and raising interest rates will only increase the pressure.

- agreeing a set of long-term policies that tie euro nations closer together and prevent a repeat of the current crisis.

In the euro nations as a whole, the commission expects 1 percent growth this year instead of 1.8 percent.