Merkel rejects eurozone ‘summit’

Report of a press conference by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 15 January 2008. She rejected French calls for a 'summit' of the eurozone leaders, saying it was 'unnecessary' and potentially 'divisive'. The chancellor also warned against any attempt to dilute the independence of the European Central Bank and said the recent appreciation of the euro against the dollar was 'an expression of the EU's economic strength'.