Hollande, Merkel bid to bridge divide over eurozone’s future

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had talks with President François Hollande in Paris on the 30 May 2013 aimed at coming up with new ideas to strengthen management of the 17-country eurozone and boost European industry.

At a joint news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande defended his comment that the EU executive cannot 'dictate' reforms to member states – a defiant, nationalist tone that angered Germany's ruling conservatives.

The two leaders also called for 'a full-time President for the Eurogroup of finance ministers relying on wider resources' to be created after the European Parliament elections in 2014.

In a subsequent interview with Der Spiegel the German Chancellor came out against handing the European Commission more powers. EurActiv said the comment was the clearest sign yet that she was reining in her ambitions to create a 'fiscal union' in which euro members would cede control of their budgets to the European Commission.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Merkel-bashing Socialists cause controversy in France http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-bashing-socialists-cause-controversy-in-france/

ESO: Background Information: French economy falls back into recession http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-economy-falls-back-into-recession/

ESO: Background Information: Memo: EU measures to tackle youth unemployment http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-eu-measures-to-tackle-youth-unemployment/

ESO: Background Information: France must cut spending and reform pensions, says EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-must-cut-spending-and-reform-pensions-says-eu/

Deutsche Welle, 30.05.13: Merkel, Hollande seek increased competitiveness, job creation http://www.dw.de/merkel-hollande-seek-increased-competitiveness-job-creation/a-16848975

EUObserver, 31.05.13: Merkel and Hollande call for full-time euro President http://euobserver.com/institutional/120328

EurActiv, 31.05.13: Merkel’s Conservatives defend Brussels in row over French reforms http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/merkel-conservatives-defend-comm-news-528169

Les Echos / Le Monde / Handelsblatt / Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 31.05.13: Merkollande takes the controls (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/3829971-merkollande-takes-controls

EurActiv, 03.06.13: Merkel sees ‘no need’ to transfer more powers to Brussels http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/merkel-sees-need-transfer-powers-news-528257

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