Sarkozy, Merkel Bring Monti Into Summit Planning With Rome Talks
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Rome Jan. 20 to meet Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti for talks to precede a European Union crisis summit 10 days later.
Including the head of the euro area’s third-largest economy contrasts with the Franco-German pattern as the financial crisis deepened of forging a common position in bilateral talks. It may mark a vote of confidence in the unelected Monti, who has pushed through budget cuts demanded by the EU after the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi.