Another day, another EU meeting for French President Francois Hollande.
This time it's German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But Hollande managed to ruffle Merkel's feathers ahead of the meeting in Paris.
He told reporters that the EU can't "dictate" reforms to France.
It comes after France received recommendations from the European Commission, urging Hollande to rein in public spending, revamp pensions and cut labour costs in return for a two-year reprieve on budget deficit cuts.
French officials mostly welcomed the recommendations as being in line with reform plans already sent to Brussels.
But Hollande says the Commission must not overstep its mark.
And that's not going to please Merkel.
There are growing concerns in the EU economic powerhouse, that France is slipping deeper into decline.
The meeting is intended to flesh out a proposal on greater euro zone cooperation ahead of next month's EU summit.
But HSBC Global Economist Ma
