Berlin-Paris tensions re-emerge as ECB ponders stimulus

On the 1 September 2014, French officials stated that the European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi and the French President Francois Hollande had shared the same "worry about growth and inflation" in the eurozone, following talks between the two in Paris. Mr Draghi had discussed the bank's options with German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier in the day.

Earlier comments from the ECB leader on how to tackle the Eurozone's economic challenges had been welcomed by French authorities, but received a cool reception in Berlin.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls had insisted in August 2014 on the importance of reducing public deficits during a speech at the employers Summer University, hoping to reassure Germany over France's mounting debt.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Unemployment in the euro area: Draghi urges new stimulus to stave off stagnation http://www.europeansources.info/record/unemployment-in-the-euro-area-draghi-urges-new-stimulus-to-stave-off-stagnation/

ESO: Background information: Hollande urges ECB to 'inject liquidity in the economy' http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-urges-ecb-to-inject-liquidity-in-the-economy/

Irish Independent, 01.09.14: Growing clash between France and Germany over austerity http://www.independent.ie/business/world/growing-clash-between-france-and-germany-over-austerity-30551158.html

EurActiv, 03.09.14: Valls reaffirms his support for French-German partnership http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/valls-reaffirms-his-support-french-german-partnership-308166

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