During the meeting, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and François Hollande spoke about the challenges lying ahead of the Eurozone countries to combat the financial crisis. They agreed on the need to act as one voice and in a decisive manner in Europe to combat the crisis whilst upholding the principles of the welfare state. They also highlighted the importance of the G-20 playing an important role in coordinating the response to the current financial situation.
The President of the Government also received the General Secretary of the Portuguese Socialist Party, José Seguro, who expressed the same ideas on respecting social rights in spite of the austerity demanded by the current economic situation.
François Hollande and José Seguro are presently in Spain, together with other leading progressists, to attend the Global Progress Conference taking place over the course of these days in Madrid.