'German stance unchanged' but Schaeuble hints at compromise 'Talk of shared debt only after stable fiscal union'

(ANSA) - Rome, June 28 - German Economy Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told ANSA Thursday that nothing has changed in his country's tough stance regarding measures to overcome the euro crisis despite earlier statements suggesting it was considering shared liability of eurozone debt. "Nothing has changed in the German position," he said, commenting on his statements in the Wall Street Journal. "Only at the end of a process towards a true and stable fiscal union can we also talk about shared management of debt. But only at that point". Germany, which has faced increased pressure from Italy, France and Spain to offer concessions, is to enter tough negotiations on measures to skirt a eurozone meltdown at a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Schaeuble said that Berlin "could agree to some form of debt mutualization once it is convinced that European controls over national budgets are irreversible".In order to ensure that states acted responsibly, Schaeuble said that a "Tsar" at the European level and with ample disciplinary powers would need to be imposed.He also emphasized that Germany would ensure "there will be no jointly guaranteed bonds without a common fiscal policy". Hinting at further compromise, the economy minister told the business daily he was open to Italian Premier Mario Monti's proposal to use European Union rescue funds to service state debt in countries with sound fiscal discipline like Italy and Spain, who are still undergoing pressure on the money markets.