EU leaders back euro 200 bn stimulus package

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says European Union (EU) leaders have agreed on a euro 200 billion ($264.3 billion) economic stimulus package to rescue their recession-hit economies.

He also says EU governments' approach would not tamper with British plans to spend its way out of a downturn. The EU plan covers 2009-2010.

Brown told reporters at an EU summit on Friday that Britain's fiscal policy stance had been vindicated and EU leaders agreed that budgets must support monetary policy.

Germany's finance minister has been harshly critical of Britain, saying it was crass and unwise to load the next generation with debt as it tries to stoke growth with sales tax cuts.