EU leaders work out debt crisis measures

BRUSSELS: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says countries that share the euro must show the political will to grow together in the face of the debt crisis.

She and other European Union leaders are taking up new proposals, led by Germany and France, for getting a grip on the continent's debt troubles.

The proposals ``will be about improving competitiveness and at the same time making it clear that we have the political will to grow together.'' She says this applies to the 17 countries that share the euro but also to other members of the 27-nation EU.

Friday's EU summit in Brussels is a chance for politicians to finally get one step ahead of the bond market vigilantes and cool emotions around the euro after a punishing year of market turmoil.