Economy trumps all at EU-Canada, Francophonie meetings

The opening of a gathering of the world's French-speaking nations Friday may take a back seat to talks between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and European Union leaders over the world's current economic turmoil.

The meeting in Quebec City between Harper, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, was initially supposed to focus on a possible free trade deal between Canada and the EU.

The Friday meeting's new direction was announced by Harper as he laid out a six-point economic plan following his re-election this week.

He promised to make sure Canadian banks are not put at a disadvantage by rescue efforts in Europe and the United States, where governments are pumping money into financial institutions to protect them.

"We are examining what other countries are doing very closely to make sure that our banks are not put at a competitive disadvantage," Harper said. 

"The global financial crisis will be discussed at the Canada-European Union summit .… We will also explore strengthening the economic partnership between us and the EU."

On Wednesday, the 27 leaders of the EU adopted a plan to rescue the financial sector, and Sarkozy said the path to a resolution of the economic crisis resides in unity.

But on Thursday, the EU vowed to follow through on plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, despite the worries the move will have a negative impact on industries already besieged by the world financial crisis.

Charest wants to focus on economy

"The deadline on climate change is so important that we cannot use the financial and economic crisis as a pretext for dropping it," Sarkozy said in Brussels.

Sarkozy will attend the economic summit and then stay in Quebec City for the official opening of the Francophonie summit Friday evening.

Premier Jean Charest is hoping to make the worldwide economic slowdown a priority when the leaders of dozens of French speaking countries meet in Quebec City Friday evening.

Almost 70 world leaders will attend the Francophonie Summit, including Sarkozy and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon — making it Canada's largest international meeting of heads of state.

Leaders are expected to discuss issues such as bolstering the French language around the world, democracy and the environment.

But the economy should take centre stage, Charest said on the eve of the summit.

Charest is meeting with Canada's other premiers and territorial leaders next week to discuss economic issues.

Sarkozy will address the national assembly Friday, the first time a French president has ever spoken to the provincial legislature. It is Sarkozy's first visit to Quebec.

He is also expected to sign off on a France-Quebec agreement to mutually recognize the qualifications of doctors, nurses and other professionals.

Heavy security in place for summit

Thousands of police officers are posted in Quebec City to provide security for the summit.

Several hotels including the Chateau Frontenac and the Convention Centre are surrounded by security forces.

Organizers had to deal with an unexpected security problem earlier this week.

Some media reports suggested a handful of RCMP officers posted at the Convention Centre do not speak French.

RCMP officials say bilingual officers were given priority for the meeting, and those who do not speak French are not supposed to be in positions that bring them into contact with the public.

Local parking and traffic will be affected by the summit.

Residents are being asked to consult the summit's official site for road closures.

Francophonie members include Morocco, Mozambique, Switzerland and Vietnam.