Germany plays down need for e.Europe aid package

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Germany played down on Sunday the need for a special aid package for the whole of eastern Europe saying the economic situation of countries in the region differed after calls from Hungary for 180 billion euro aid plan.

"I see a very different situation (among eastern countries)," Merkel said on arrival at a special EU summit. "I do not advise going into the debate with massive figures," she said.

She also said she would propose to boost the amount of money the European Investment bank, the EU's lending arm, has available for the car sector for new car technologies.

She also said European Union countries should commit to returning to solid public finances once the economic downturn ended.

(Reporting by Mark John, writing by Jan Strupczewski)