23 May 2012 Last updated at 10:42 GMT Francois Hollande says he wants all options discussed European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Wednesday are expected to hear the new French president challenge the EU's German-led austerity drive.
Francois Hollande has said he wants the focus shifted to growth, and will raise the idea of shared-debt eurobonds as a way of heading off the eurozone crisis.
Germany is firmly opposed to eurobonds - but has accepted there is a need to stimulate growth.
The meeting comes amid concern that Greece may have to leave the euro.
Even though that prospect is not formally on the agenda, correspondents say it is sure to be discussed.
The informal dinner in Brussels on Wednesday evening will be chaired by the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy.
He has asked leaders to raise "innovative, even controversial, ideas" to stimulate growth, that could lead to decisions being taken at the next EU summit in June.
It follows a warning by the OECD on Tuesday that the eurozone could slip into "severe recession".
'Perverse incentive'
Mr Hollande, who was elected this month on an anti-austerity platform, says he wants eurobonds discussed.
The idea is that countries could issue debt guaranteed jointly by all EU members, and this would cut the high borrowing costs faced by countries like Spain and Italy and encourage markets to lend to them.
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France wants to use such borrowing to fund spending that would stimulate growth.
However, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel remains steadfastly opposed, and has the support of the Netherlands and Austria.
Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said eurobonds were not a solution to the crisis, and that the main focus should be on austerity and reform.
"It would now be a perverse incentive for countries which are in trouble to not reform and not cut spending," he said.
Mr Hollande was to meet the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, before the Brussels dinner to try to get support for his proposals.
Breaking a recent French tradition, he will not hold a preliminary meeting with the German leader.
Message to Greece
The BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, says there is more likely to be consensus on other measures to promote growth.
They are expected to include making better use of the EU's "structural funds" - a large pot of money meant to support infrastructure projects in the EU's poorer countries, and much of which is unallocated.
Other proposals include boosting the capital of the European Investment Bank so it can help small businesses, and cutting red tape.
Our editor says the problem with these ideas is that their impact will come in the long term.
France, among other countries, wants a more immediate stimulus.
Mr Hollande and other leaders may push for a delay to deficit reduction targets, which they believe are strangling growth.
As for Greece, our Europe editor says the message is likely to remain the same - that Athens must accept the terms of the bail-out deal, including austerity measures.
View the original article here
Francois Hollande has said he wants the focus shifted to growth, and will raise the idea of shared-debt eurobonds as a way of heading off the eurozone crisis.
Germany is firmly opposed to eurobonds - but has accepted there is a need to stimulate growth.
The meeting comes amid concern that Greece may have to leave the euro.
Even though that prospect is not formally on the agenda, correspondents say it is sure to be discussed.
The informal dinner in Brussels on Wednesday evening will be chaired by the European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy.
He has asked leaders to raise "innovative, even controversial, ideas" to stimulate growth, that could lead to decisions being taken at the next EU summit in June.
It follows a warning by the OECD on Tuesday that the eurozone could slip into "severe recession".
'Perverse incentive'
Mr Hollande, who was elected this month on an anti-austerity platform, says he wants eurobonds discussed.
The idea is that countries could issue debt guaranteed jointly by all EU members, and this would cut the high borrowing costs faced by countries like Spain and Italy and encourage markets to lend to them.
Continue reading the main story
The menu might have changed but the agenda has not: to fix a crisis threatening the future of the euro and the world economy”End Quote The idea is backed by several countries as well as the European Commission.
France wants to use such borrowing to fund spending that would stimulate growth.
However, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel remains steadfastly opposed, and has the support of the Netherlands and Austria.
Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said eurobonds were not a solution to the crisis, and that the main focus should be on austerity and reform.
"It would now be a perverse incentive for countries which are in trouble to not reform and not cut spending," he said.
Mr Hollande was to meet the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, before the Brussels dinner to try to get support for his proposals.
Breaking a recent French tradition, he will not hold a preliminary meeting with the German leader.
Message to Greece
The BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, says there is more likely to be consensus on other measures to promote growth.
They are expected to include making better use of the EU's "structural funds" - a large pot of money meant to support infrastructure projects in the EU's poorer countries, and much of which is unallocated.
Other proposals include boosting the capital of the European Investment Bank so it can help small businesses, and cutting red tape.
Our editor says the problem with these ideas is that their impact will come in the long term.
France, among other countries, wants a more immediate stimulus.
Mr Hollande and other leaders may push for a delay to deficit reduction targets, which they believe are strangling growth.
As for Greece, our Europe editor says the message is likely to remain the same - that Athens must accept the terms of the bail-out deal, including austerity measures.
View the original article here
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