World news: France and Germany fail to bridge gap on Emu

Germany and France reiterated their commitment yesterday to launching European monetary union on schedule, but remained divided over control of the new currency. Meeting in the east German city of Weimar, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin reached for three different solutions. While stressing the independence of the future European Central Bank, Mr Jospin called for "informal structures" to allow governments a say in economic matters. Germany remains adamant that there could be no political interference in the bank's work. President Chirac fudged.

Disagreement also surfaced over French proposals for a community-wide policy to tackle unemployment, but Mr Chirac and Mr Kohl came out with identical wordings when asked about the forthcoming British presidency of the EU, which will oversee the selection of candidates to monetary union. The two men had "no doubt that Tony Blair will be the best possible chairman".