German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new French President Francois Hollande have held a joint press conference after talks in Berlin.
Together they addressed the political problems in Greece and their ideas on reviving economic growth in Europe. Commenting on the situation in Greece, both leaders expressed their desire that the country will remain in the eurozone and pledged joint support to aid Greek economic activity and growth.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and the President of France, Francois
Hollande, right, gesture after a press conference as part of a meeting at the
chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, May 15, 2012.
Hollande reiterated his view that prosperity rather than austerity should be the priority to overcoming the crisis that is hitting Europe.
However he did make clear that Germany and France must work together and offer joint ideas ahead of an EU summit next month on reviving economic growth. A position that was strongly echoed by his German counterpart.
Merkel said, "Whatever we can do to structurally to help Greece, to help with growth, to help with organization, we want to do this. And I believe that we will agree that Greece belongs in the European Union and in the Eurogroup and we want to promote this."
Hollande said, "We want to work together for the good of Europe but we also want to mobilize all of the other countries of Europe. I also wanted to come to talk to the chancellor about our work for the coming weeks and months."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande address a news
conference after their talks in the Chancellery in Berlin, May 15, 2012.
中国公共网摘编:GAN JADE |