France and Germany plan joint taxation / Merkel and Sarkozy pledge to defend euro

Report of a meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Paris, 16 August 2011 to discuss the eurozone financial crisis.

The French and German leaders called for 'true economic governance' for the eurozone in response to the euro debt crisis. They also called for all eurozone countries to enshrine balanced budgets in their constitutions.

The two countries would urge their European Union partners to adopt a tax on financial transactions.

'Germany and France feel absolutely determined to strengthen the euro as our common currency and further develop it,' Ms Merkel said.

Spiegel Online International, 18.8.11: What Will a European Economic Government Entail? http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,780832,00.html

ESO: Background information: EU agrees incomplete financial package http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-agrees-incomplete-financial-package/

EurActiv, 17.8.11: Sarkozy, Merkel want Van Rompuy as 'Mr Euro' http://www.euractiv.com/en/euro-finance/sarkozy-merkel-want-van-rompuy-euro-news-507007

ESO: Background information: Brussels backs financial activities tax http://www.europeansources.info/record/brussels-backs-financial-activities-tax/

France: President of France: Elysee Palace, 16.8.11: Video: Joint press conference by Sarkozy and Merkel http://www.elysee.fr/president/mediatheque/videos/2011/aout/zone-euro-conference-de-presse-franco-allemande.11868.html

BBC News, 16.8.11: Franco-German call for 'true euro economic governance' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14549358

ESO: Background information: Germany and France rule out eurobonds http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-and-france-rule-out-eurobonds/

EUObserver, 18.8.11: Merkel and Sarkozy plan 'true economic government' http://euobserver.com/19/113327

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/11/557: Statement by President Barroso and Commissioner Rehn on today's proposals by President Sarkozy and Chancelor Merkel http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/557&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Deutsche Welle, 16.8.11: Germany and France push for closer economic coordination in the eurozone http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15322090,00.html

France24, 16.8.11: Sarkozy and Merkel push for tighter eurozone governance http://www.france24.com/en/20110816-sarkozy-merkel-push-eurozone-governance-france-germany-debt-crisis

Spiegel Online international, 16.8.11: Merkel and Sarkozy Plan 'True Economic Government' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,780630,00.html

ETUC: Press Release, 17.8.11: ETUC disappointed by the ‘Merkel-Sarkozy’ proposals and demands social partner consultation in Eurozone summits http://www.etuc.org/a/8958

La Stampa, 17.8.11: Nice ideas, shame about the delay http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/865941-nice-ideas-shame-about-delay

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