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Key quotes from EU summit

31 January 2012, 10:11 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - European Union leaders held their first summit of 2012, with 25 of 27 states joining a fiscal pact while seeking ways to counter recession as a row erupted over a German call to place Athens under EU supervision.

Here are key quotes from the meeting:

FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY

"There cannot be any talk of putting any nation under wardenship. It would not be reasonable, democratic and efficient."

GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL

"I think that in light of the discussions, which are often very emotional, it is important that we come to a conclusion" about the extent of the surveillance of Greece.

LUXEMBOURG PRIME MINISTER JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER

"I am strongly against the idea of imposing a commissioner with that mission only to Greece. That's not acceptable."

AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR WERNER FAYMANN

"(The German proposal) doesn't achieve anything and it goes in the wrong direction."

SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER FREDRIK REINFELDT

"(Greeks) are not delivering on reforms, which is why we are having this discussion (of the German proposal). I can understand that."

DUTCH PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE

Warning that Greece cannot expect more bailout aid without reforming, he said: "Greece must also honour the commitments it has made with us."

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON

Commenting on French plans to introduce a financial transactions tax: "I know I used the word mad, but I do think it's an extraordinary thing to do. The European Commissioner has told us this would cost Europe half a million jobs. Now when we're all fighting for jobs and for growth, to do something that would cost so many jobs does seem to me to be extraordinary.

"And in the spirit of this healthy competition with France, if France goes for a financial transactions tax then the door will be open and we'll be able to welcome many more French banks, businesses and others to the UK."

EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT MARIO DRAGHI

The pact is a "first step toward a fiscal union" which "certainly will strengthen confidence in the euro area."

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI

Voicing confidence Germany will agree to boost the size of the EU's permanent bailout fund: "We are getting the feeling that there is a shift in Germany's position and I am optimistic. It is important that the capacity of this fund is changed ... Italy would not need these funds."

EU PRESIDENT HERMAN VAN ROMPUY

With Greece in tough negotiations with banks on a debt writedown, he said: "We urge finance ministers to take all necessary actions to implement the private sector involvement agreement and to adopt the new programme by the end of the week."


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