The roles of key European figures in tackling the financial crisis

(BRUSSELS) - The global financial crisis may have emanated from the United States but the shockwaves have impacted as much within Europe's corridors of power as anywhere.

Here we look at the role of some of the main players who will meet in Brussels on Friday to prepare for a G20 summit on November 15 dedicated to reforming the global financial system.

Gordon Brown: The British prime minister, who had been coming under fire from members of his own government and seen poll ratings plummet, saw his stock rise first on the European stage.

His plan to bail out banks was used as a blueprint in the EU and the US. "He's the surprise winner in the crisis," said Katinka Barysch, an analyst at the Center for European Reform.

In an opinion poll last week Brown's ruling Labour party was lagging eight points behind the Conservative opposition.

While far from an overwhelming endorsement, the Brown bounce is evident when the figure is compared to the 19 point gap of two months earlier.

Nicolas Sarkozy: With France holding the rotating EU presidency, the French president brought European leaders together to thrash out a common approach to tackling the financial crisis, albeit based on the Brown model.

The French president was portrayed in full superhero regalia in a recent edition of Courrier International with the headline "Super Sarko. The world envies you!", though part of that envy might be attributed to his ex-model wife Carla Bruni.

However his hyperactivity has led to concern, not least in the Czech Republic which will assume the EU presidency from Paris in January, that France might seek to extend its influence beyond December 31.

Angela Merkel: The German Chancellor has appeared unenthusiastic about working jointly, preferring national solutions to the challenges facing European economies to avoid Germany paying to bail out banks elsewhere.

She joined ranks in Europe's joint emergency plan but not until the economic tsunami had washed up in Germany.

Now with Germany fully engaged, European leaders are looking to Merkel to head opposition to Sarkozy's hands-on attempts to confront the financial crisis, over fears they could drive a wedge through Europe.

Jean-Claude Trichet: The European Central Bank head, who had a reputation for sitting on his hands while eurozone growth spluttered, surprised many by springing into action.

On October 8, with the financial firestorm raging, the ECB cut the eurozone base rate by a full half a percent, in concerted action with other central banks.

On Thursday, the ECB followed up with a further 0.5 percent rate cut.

While the Frankfurt-based institution has in the past rejected any government interference, Trichet agreed to work with them during the crisis.

While that has pleased Sarkozy and others it has at the same time heightened fears in Germany and elsewhere that the bank's independence is jeopardised.

Jose Manuel Barroso: The verdict on the European Commission head is split with a feeling in some quarters that it took a long time for the confirmed liberal to appreciate the gravity of the situation.

Pervenche Beres, chair of the European parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee says Barroso's commission is not pro-active enough and has been playing catch-up. "He is a politician focussed on his re-election," she charges.

Others say he however he has played a key bridging role, helping bring together the divergent European views and representing them alongside Sarkozy at talks with US President George W. Bush last month.

Jean-Claude Juncker: The Luxembourg premier and head of the group of eurozone finance ministers found himself relegated to a supporting role and admitted he and his colleagues failed to read the storm clouds quick enough.

"Recession awaits us, and we didn't think that recession lay in waiting," Juncker told members of the European Parliament this week.

"We were badly mistaken with the different sequences of this crisis."