Germany, France and Italy have voiced support for the independence of the European Central Bank.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti issued such a stance after they held summit talks in Strasbourg, France on Thursday.

Merkel and Sarkozy told reporters that they and Monti have agreed that with respect for the independence of the European Central Bank, one should refrain from positive or negative demands of the institution.

Sarkozy said that in the coming days, he and Merkel would work on a package of reforms for European treaties and will submit it to the European Union at a December ninth summit.