因此，当施罗德宣称德国未能遵守欧盟《稳定和增长协定》所规定的预算上限有其特殊原因时，他似乎是在辩解说这样的限制只应该适用于小国而不是大国。
Thus, when Schroeder claimed special circumstances for Germany’s failure to meet the budgetary ceilings of the European Union’s Stability and Growth Pact, he seemed to be arguing that the restrictions should apply only to smaller countries, not to the big players.