Merkel and Hollande’s statement was made ahead of a September 16 EU meeting which will take place without Britain. Twenty-seven EU leaders will meet without Britain in Slovakia on September 16 and France's Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement that a "new impulse" was required. Speaking two days ahead of a G20 summit in Hangzhou in China, Hollande and Merkel underscored Europe's role in trying to spur growth and international trade. Story continues below…"We will do our level best in China to see that the most important countries can give a new push to growth and global commerce," Hollande said. Merkel on the other hand said that European countries "will do all they canto fight protectionism."

Source: The Local September 03, 2016 11:48 UTC