France's Sarkozy Wants Stronger EU Role On Gas, Bank Regulation

Tue, May 5 2009, 18:30 GMThttp://www.djnewswires.com/eu
France's Sarkozy Wants Stronger EU Role On Gas, Bank RegulationFITITOL-->
France's Sarkozy Wants Stronger EU Role On Gas, Bank Regulation PARIS -(Dow Jones)- French President Nicolas Sarkozy pleaded Tuesday for a stronger role for the European Union on several fronts, including gas supply and banking regulation, outlining the French agenda for the 27-nation bloc. Sarkozy asked for the creation of a central European agency to purchase gas so that the continent can increase its bargaining power with foreign suppliers. "Europe must fight to build a true energy policy, which doesn't just involve competition," Sarkozy said in a speech in Nimes in southern France, which was broadcast on several TV channels. The French president, who held the rotating presidency of the bloc until December, also asked for the establishment of a committee of banking regulators with binding powers. On financial regulation, Europe must provide the "example," Sarkozy said. -By Gabriele Parussini; gabriele.parussini@dowjones.com; 014017 1766 Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=W6UuMrXOzzpS27SyD3zXzg%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 05, 2009 14:30 ET (18:30 GMT)
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