France has invited finance ministers from the European Union to attend a meeting in Paris on Dec. 18 focusing on global financial issues, an official of French Economy Ministry said on Friday.
"We are in the process of setting it up," the official of French Economy Ministry said.
According to the official, France has sent invitations to its partners and is still waiting for their confirmation. Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of European Central Bank, has also been invited.
European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commission Joaquin Almunia will take part in the meeting. Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giulio Tremonti will also attend.
However, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, British Finance Minister Alistair Darling and Eurogroup Chairman Jean- Claude Juncker will be absent and will send their deputies instead.
An EU diplomat said the meeting would focus on global financial issues, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn was expected to be present.