Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, accompanied by José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of Eurogroup and Jean-Claude Trichet, the President of the European Central Bank, will receive Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at the Élysée Palace at 15:30 on Sunday 12 October 2008.

The Heads of State and Government of countries that have adopted the euro as their currency, together with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Central Bank, will then meet at 17:00 at the Elysée Palace.

This meeting’s purpose is to draw up a joint action plan for the euro area Member States and the European Central Bank in response to the current financial crisis.

After this meeting, a press conference will be held at the Élysée Palace in the presence of the French President, José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of Eurogroup and Jean-Claude Trichet, the President of the European Central Bank.

Accreditations will be delivered to those presenting a French press card, a card for permanent correspondents of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a card from the European Commission, as well as to foreign journalists who appear on the Embassies list.

A press centre will be set up in the hôtel de Marigny.

Opening on Sunday 12 October from 14:00 onwards.

Nicolas Sarkozy and José Manuel Barroso: press briefing of the Heads of State and Government of the euro zone