Sarkozy reassures Eurozone ministers over budget
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
BRUSSELS, July 10 (AFP): French President Nicolas Sarkozy sought yesterday to reassure Eurozone finance ministers about his budget plans with promises to shake up the French economy, but received a cautious reception.
True to his image as a whirlwind of activity, the newly-elected rightwing leader tried to take Paris' eurozone partners by storm with the unusual move of inviting himself to the ministers' dinner meeting to outline his budget plans.
Although all 13-nations sharing the euro committed in April to balance their books by 2010, Sarkozy has warned since he was elected in May that France may need until 2012 so that he can jolt the French economy with a growth "shock".
True to his image as a whirlwind of activity, the newly-elected rightwing leader tried to take Paris' eurozone partners by storm with the unusual move of inviting himself to the ministers' dinner meeting to outline his budget plans.
Although all 13-nations sharing the euro committed in April to balance their books by 2010, Sarkozy has warned since he was elected in May that France may need until 2012 so that he can jolt the French economy with a growth "shock".