France and Germany are pushing for the creation of a full-time president for the 17-country euro currency bloc with stronger powers to drive economic policy.

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, meeting in Paris, say they agree on the need for a new high-level leader of the eurozone as a way to improve coordination.

Speaking Thursday at a joint press conference in Paris, Hollande said he and Merkel "are in agreement that there should be mo...