Key European leaders have forecast in their New Year’s messages that 2012 will be a difficult year as they work to overcome the euro zone debt crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe will experience by far its most difficult trial this year.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in his message that Europe's crisis will continue, but the new year will also bring hope.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said making sacrifice is an inevitable obligation for the future of younger generations. He called for efforts from all walks of society to help stop the spread of the fiscal crisis.