Clash of styles in race to save single currency / Battle of wills rages over European fiscal rules

The mercurial French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the stubborn German Chancellor Angela Merkel are very different personalities who have never enjoyed much natural personal chemistry. But as the financial crisis has raged around them, they have been forced to reconcile deep differences of approach to the governance of the European Union and the common currency, knowing that if they fail, the euro could face collapse.

Mr Sarkozy’s major EU speech on the 1 December 2011, and Ms Merkel’s declaration in the Bundestag on the 2 December 2011, showed that they have made remarkable progress in agreeing on the broad outlines of a pact to tackle the eurozone crisis to be presented at the European Council, Brussels, 8-9 December 2011.

ESO: Background Information: Parliament to adopt 'six pack' EU budget rules http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-to-adopt-six-pack-eu-budget-rules/

EurActiv, 5.12.11: Franco-German differences persist ahead of EU proposals http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/franco-german-differences-persist-ahead-eu-proposals-news-509424

BBC News, 5.12.11: Eurozone: France and Germany call for tougher treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16037425

EUObserver, 5.12.11: Franco-German fudge would see EU court judge budget discipline http://euobserver.com/19/114511

ESO: Background information: Merkel calls for rapid EU treaty change http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-calls-for-rapid-eu-treaty-change/

ESO: Background information: Paris wary of ceding power to Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-wary-of-ceding-power-to-brussels/

ESO: Background information: Ten crucial days in race to save euro http://www.europeansources.info/record/ten-crucial-days-in-race-to-save-euro/

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