German Chancellor Angela Merkel is opposed to handing more powers to the European Commission, she said in an interview published today.

Germany has traditionally backed a stronger commission, but the EU's Brussels-based executive has seen its influence wane during the eurozone debt crisis.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has increasingly steered decision-making.

"I see no need in the next few years to give up more powers to the commission in Brussels," Ms Merkel told the weekly Der Spiegel magazine.

She added that she agreed with French President Francois Hollande on EU member states cooperating more on economic issues.

"We are thinking for example of the labour and pension markets but also of tax and social policy. Economic policy coordination in Europe is far too weak, it must be strengthened and this is rather different to giving more competences to Brussels," she said.

During talks in Paris last Thursday, Ms Merkel and Mr Hollande backed closer economic coordination between euro zone member states.

They will send a joint paper on future eurozone governance to fellow leaders ahead of a June EU summit.

Mr Hollande also criticised the EU executive over its detailed proposals last week on how to overhaul France's ailing economy, saying the Commission could not "dictate" reforms to member states.

His nationalist tone upset not only Brussels but also some members of Ms Merkel's centre-right coalition.

Ms Merkel's comments on the Commission may stir unease among smaller EU member states that see the supranational executive as the defender of their interests in a Europe that may otherwise fall even more under the sway of the larger countries.