As another point of contention between Berlin and Paris before the EU summit, Sarkozy reportedly has questioned the wisdom of an 80-billion-euro austerity program unveiled by Merkel's government earlier this week. "An austerity package after the other leads into recession," he was quoted by French newspaper Le Figaro as saying at a cabinet meeting in Paris.

Merkel however refused to comment on the difference. "I do not expect a savings program from France. Each country must decide itself how to meet the budgetary commitments we have in common," said Merkel.

Merkel and Sarkozy will meet on Monday in preparation for next week's EU summit after they postponed such a meeting this week.

Highlighting differences between Berlin and Paris concerning EU economic strategy, German media reports are talking about a stuttering Franco-German motor. In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, Merkel said that she does not think so, adding that she and Sarkozy have been in intensive consultations on fighting euro crisis as well as to develop a stability culture for the whole Europe.

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