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French President Nicolas Sarkozy waves goodbye to German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she leaves the Elysee Palace following their meeting in Paris, Monday Dec. 5, 2011. The leaders of Germany and France discussed on a cohesive plan to help save the euro through stricter oversight of government budgets. Financial markets signaled optimism that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will unveil a unified plan that tightens political and economic cooperation among the 17 European Union countries that use the euro and sets the stage for more aggressive aid from the European Central Bank. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)