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Europe agrees bank crisis action Europe agrees bank crisis action
(40 minutes later)
Europe's biggest economies have agreed to work together to support financial institutions - but without forming a joint bail-out fund.Europe's biggest economies have agreed to work together to support financial institutions - but without forming a joint bail-out fund.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted the meeting of the leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy in Paris.French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted the meeting of the leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy in Paris.
They agreed to seek a relaxation of the EU rules governing the amount of money individual states can borrow.They agreed to seek a relaxation of the EU rules governing the amount of money individual states can borrow.
Mr Sarkozy announced a series of allied measures - including unspecified action against the executives of failed banks.Mr Sarkozy announced a series of allied measures - including unspecified action against the executives of failed banks.
He said the four had agreed that the leaders of a financial institution that had to be rescued should be "sanctioned".He said the four had agreed that the leaders of a financial institution that had to be rescued should be "sanctioned".
Mr Sarkozy added: "Each government will operate with its own methods and means, but in a co-ordinated manner."Mr Sarkozy added: "Each government will operate with its own methods and means, but in a co-ordinated manner."
Each country must take its responsibilities at a national level Angela MerkelGerman chancellor
The leaders also issued a joint call for a G8 summit "as soon as possible" to review the rules governing financial markets.The leaders also issued a joint call for a G8 summit "as soon as possible" to review the rules governing financial markets.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said governments would continue to take measures to ease the credit shortage.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said governments would continue to take measures to ease the credit shortage.
"The message to families and to businesses is that, as our central banks are already doing, liquidity will be assured in order to preserve confidence and stability," he told reporters after the mini-summit."The message to families and to businesses is that, as our central banks are already doing, liquidity will be assured in order to preserve confidence and stability," he told reporters after the mini-summit.
He said European leaders should send the message that "no sound, solvent bank should be allowed to fail through lack of liquidity".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel - who said she was not happy with Ireland's action in guaranteeing bank deposits - said each country must act in "a balanced way" that did not cause harm to other EU member states.
"Each country must take its responsibilities at a national level," she said.
'Trial by fire''Trial by fire'
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, had urged the EU to take co-ordinated action, saying the financial crisis was presenting Europe with a "trial by fire". The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, had earlier urged the EU to take co-ordinated action, saying the financial crisis was presenting Europe with a "trial by fire".
It has to be indicated to the markets... that European countries will not react as every man for himself Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF headIt has to be indicated to the markets... that European countries will not react as every man for himself Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF head
He held talks with Mr Sarkozy before the EU leaders' meeting and said that although the EU was a more complex organisation than the US, Europe needed to take "concerted collective action".He held talks with Mr Sarkozy before the EU leaders' meeting and said that although the EU was a more complex organisation than the US, Europe needed to take "concerted collective action".
He said: "It has to be indicated to the markets... that European countries will not react as every man for himself."He said: "It has to be indicated to the markets... that European countries will not react as every man for himself."
He also said he would be scaling back his world economic growth forecasts.He also said he would be scaling back his world economic growth forecasts.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet and the chairman of the eurozone group of finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker, also attended the meeting.European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet and the chairman of the eurozone group of finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker, also attended the meeting.
Mr Sarkozy suggested the EU's budget rules - requiring nations using the euro common currency to keep their budget deficits below 3% and overall public debt below 60% of gross domestic product - would be adapted to deal with financial crisis, reflecting the current "exceptional circumstances".Mr Sarkozy suggested the EU's budget rules - requiring nations using the euro common currency to keep their budget deficits below 3% and overall public debt below 60% of gross domestic product - would be adapted to deal with financial crisis, reflecting the current "exceptional circumstances".
Mr Barroso said the rules would be applied with "flexibility".Mr Barroso said the rules would be applied with "flexibility".
Germany and UK scepticalGermany and UK sceptical
Ahead of the meeting, Germany had made clear its opposition to any co-ordinated European bail-out plan.Ahead of the meeting, Germany had made clear its opposition to any co-ordinated European bail-out plan.
UK PM Gordon Brown was also sceptical of the need for any Europe-wide plan.UK PM Gordon Brown was also sceptical of the need for any Europe-wide plan.
The president of the European Parliament has criticised the summit, warning that the leaders of Europe's four largest economies have no power to decide for the entire European Union.The president of the European Parliament has criticised the summit, warning that the leaders of Europe's four largest economies have no power to decide for the entire European Union.
Calls for European action follow the bail-out of both Bradford and Bingley in the UK and Fortis Bank by the governments of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.Calls for European action follow the bail-out of both Bradford and Bingley in the UK and Fortis Bank by the governments of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.