Brussels, 29/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - European economic government “a matter of strong agreement” between France and Italy, should result in joint initiatives, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday, after his meeting with Italian President and former Commission President Romano Prodi. “We had an in-depth discussion,” Mr Sarkozy told press, about “European policy and economic government” on which they agreed. “As a great European, Mr Prodi believes that the economic governance of the euro zone has to be strengthened. I am in full agreement with him,” Mr Sarkozy said, and he added, “We have decided to take joint initiatives after the European Council” (see also EUROPE 9432).
On Tuesday, at a meeting with French farmers, Mr Sarkozy once again criticised the “artificial growth of the euro against the dollar”, an issue he had raised the previous day with Mr Prodi, and which is due to be discussed next week at the G8 Summit. “I want us to do with the euro what the Chinese do with the yuan,” he said, concerned by the high level of the euro against the dollar and Asian currencies. “I asked Jean-Claude Trichet” (the president of the European Central Bank - ECB) and “we are going to have to have a debate,” he said, adding, “I believe in the independence of the ECB and I believe the currency is an instrument which should serve growth and employment”. (ab)