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Sarkozy and PM in economy talks Technology investment key - Brown
(about 4 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is meeting Gordon Brown at Downing Street for talks on what more can be to stimulate the global economy. Gordon Brown has said more investment is needed in technology and environmentally friendly industries in an effort to tackle the downturn.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is joining them, ahead of an EU summit in Brussels this week. The prime minister held Downing Street talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Jose Manuel Barroso, head of the European Commission.
They will later meet business leaders from across Europe afterwards to discuss ways to ease problems. Afterwards he said technology could help governments in their efforts to "invest out of the downturn".
And they are expected to discuss ways that moving to a low-carbon economy could generate more jobs. EU leaders are to hold an economic summit in Brussels later this week.
Among those taking part in the Downing Street meeting are representatives of Vodafone, Tesco, British Telecom, the National Grid, Corus, Prudential and Diageo. Also taking part in Downing Street meetings were representatives of companies including Vodafone, Tesco, British Telecom, the National Grid, Corus, Prudential and Diageo.
French package 'Infrastructure'
Mr Brown said: "We have looked at how, just as many years ago investment in road and rail and infrastructure was a powerful stimulus to the economies then, so too in this new age we can invest in the digital infrastructure for the future."
He added that areas to be looked at included telecommunication, environmentally related industries and new environmental technologies.
The aim was "to build the technological and environmental infrastructure of the 21st century as we invest out of the downturn", Mr Brown said.
In November the European Commission unveiled an economic recovery plan worth 200bn euros (£170bn) - including at least 5bn euros to help the car industry develop green technologies.In November the European Commission unveiled an economic recovery plan worth 200bn euros (£170bn) - including at least 5bn euros to help the car industry develop green technologies.
Last week France became the latest of the biggest European economies to unveil a fiscal stimulus package.Last week France became the latest of the biggest European economies to unveil a fiscal stimulus package.
It plans to spend 26bn euro (£23bn) plan to boost its economy - including a loan for car manufacturers and 5bn euro public sector investments.
Britain has already unveiled a £20bn (23.6bn euros) plan - which includes a cut in VAT, but the prime minister's spokesman has indicated more needed to be done across Europe.Britain has already unveiled a £20bn (23.6bn euros) plan - which includes a cut in VAT, but the prime minister's spokesman has indicated more needed to be done across Europe.
It is expected that the meeting with business leaders will discuss ways to ease pressure on firms - for example by reducing red tape to help keep costs down.