Financial crisis overshawows Canada EU summit

QUEBEC CITY: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso to discuss the turmoil in the world's financial markets.

The three arrived in Quebec City ahead of the summit of the Francophonie Summit beginning Friday night.

Harper says the meeting is also aimed at exploring ways Canada and Europe can strengthen their economic ties.

The leaders of most of the world's French-speaking nations will be in Quebec City through Sunday for the Francophonie Summit. Sarkozy is leaving on Saturday to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush. That meeting is intended to lay the groundwork for a global summit to overhaul the financial system.