Trichet calls for EU unity in financial crisis

The head of the European Central Bank has called for European unity in responding to the global financial crisis.

Jean-Claude Trichet warned that European “growth is weak and there are risks of it being even more so”.

He said this “exceptional period” of financial turbulence required Europe to be “as united as possible”.

Trichet was speaking in an interview with Europe-1 radio today, a day before Europe’s four G8 member states hold talks on the economy.

The Paris meeting of top French, German, British and Italian officials is aimed at hammering out a united European strategy to overcome the financial crisis.

Trichet, the head of the European Commission and Europe’s top financial official are also to attend Saturday’s talks.