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Sarkozy and Merkel meeting in Strasbourg today. AP Photo/Michael Probst

Merkel, Sarkozy propose changes to EU Treaties

The proposals are expected to be outlined at the next EU leaders’ summit and concern stronger political cooperation in the eurozone.

ANGELA MERKEL and Nicolas Sarkozy have announced plans to propose a number of changes to the EU Treaties as part of continuing efforts to tackle the eurozone debt crisis.

The German and French leaders were meeting with new Italian PM Mario Monti today, and said the proposals concern “the question of a fiscal union, a deeper political cooperation”.

Treaty changes would, Merkel said, “make clear that we must take steps toward a fiscal union to express the conviction that we know policies must be more closely coordinated if you have a common, stable currency.”

However, Merkel denied suggesting any changes to the ECB.

Sarkozy said the proposals would be prepared in time for the next EU summit on 9 December.

The three EU leaders today agreed that current measures are not stringent enough to ward off future problems and need to be strengthened to prevent any repeat of the current crisis.

Meanwhile, Merkel today re-emphasised her opposition to the European Commission-supported proposal for euro bonds, or Stability Bonds, saying: “It would be completely the wrong signal to lose sight entirely now of these differing interest rates, because they are a pointer to where something still needs to be done and where we need to go further.”

Germany fears its low borrowing costs would rise if the eurozone issued joint bonds to raise funds.

- Additional reporting by the AP

Read: Euro bond plan includes giving EU ‘extensive intrusive power’ >

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:33 PM

    I don’t think it will catch on ;)

    132
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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:55 PM

    Frequently swear I’ll dump my FB profile, TBH I think it’s nearing its sell by date.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Delete your Facebook accounts

    61
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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:26 PM

    “Chalk it down” as they would say down under.

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Oct 5th 2015, 9:13 AM

    ““Chalk it down” as they would say down under.”

    Do we? Never heard that one.

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    Mute kenobi :)
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:14 PM

    What goes up will come down.

    58
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    Mute BevinArmageddon
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:32 AM

    Yeah, kinda like the Internet. Remember that monumental failure?

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    Mute Babadook
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:30 PM

    I’ll knock anyone for doing well for themselves but I just find him a little smug. Mr. Mc Smug Smug.

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:37 PM

    These days, Facebook is worth $265.3 billion, with over 1.5 billion people using the site every month.

    Reduce> 2+6+5+3+1+5 = 22 and In Numerology the Number “22″ represents the Master Builder.

    Facebook raised $13.7 million > 11

    There was a lot more than just Mark Zuckerberg behind Facebook from the very beginning.

    Facebook was set up by the US Administration with this in mind.

    http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/dd395-NSA-site.jpg

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    Mute John Cummins
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:24 PM

    What are you on about? it doesn’t take a genius to work out that 13,700,000 is greater that 11!

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Oct 5th 2015, 12:57 PM

    Frank is our resident nut job John, Take no notice. Facebook is not worth 256.3 bn at all. But even oif you found the right number Frank would make the maths work for him.

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    Mute Fiachra Ahern Esq
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:54 PM

    Someone had a busy day on google images. Maybe an article with a critique would have been more interesting and better journalism.

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    Mute The Dublin Cynic
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:47 AM

    Facebook ain’t going anywhere for a very long time. It has too much info on you and I, it knows everything about you and more, the US government will make sure it stays around for a long time. The people who have accounts but say they never use it, Fb already have what they need on you and have profiled you easily. The ones who say they will/have deleted their accounts, again fb doesn’t care, there are plenty more people signing up everyday who will be more engaging to replace you. It’s pretty much like a race, as in human race.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Oct 4th 2015, 9:49 PM

    Thief

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