French president Francois Hollande has promised to work with Germany to tackle Europe's economic storm and keep debt-ridden Greece in the eurozone.

The new leader has held his first-ever talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel, amid news that Greece is heading for new elections.

The two leaders acknowledged differences over how to boost growth in recession-plagued Europe, but pledged to work together on a joint approach in time for a summit next month.

Mr Hollande jetted to Berlin hours after his inauguration, but arrived late after his plane was hit by lightning en route to the meeting.

Once he arrived safely, he reiterated his electoral platform.

He has vowed to shift Europe's focus back to growth and reopen a tough new set of budget rules that Ms Merkel and other EU leaders agreed to adopt earlier this year - a step considered taboo in Berlin.

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"I said it during my election campaign and I say it again now as president that I want to renegotiate what has been agreed to include a growth dimension," he said.

Ms Merkel tried to gloss over the gap between his wish for growth, and hers for austerity.

"I'm not worried that we could not have common ground, possibly we have some different opinions," she said.

"Growth has to feed through to the people. And that's why I'm happy that we'll discuss different ideas on how to achieve growth."

The leaders made an effort to stress unity, with Ms Merkel saying there were "points in common" with Mr Hollande on the way to boost growth.

"We are aware of the responsibility that we have as France and Germany for good development in Europe and I think that we will find solutions for individual problems in this spirit," Ms Merkel said.

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Mr Hollande says he is "ready to put everything on the table" at a forthcoming informal summit of EU leaders in Brussels on May 23.

He also called for "balanced" and "respectful" relations with Germany, as Europe waits to see if the continent's top two economies can find solutions to a crisis that could yet tear the euro project apart.

The two leaders also vowed to do whatever they could to keep Greece in the eurozone.

Fresh fears it could leave the single currency have been sparked by its political limbo. Coalition talks failed overnight and voters will head back to the polls next month.

"Like Mrs Merkel, I want Greece to remain in the euro zone," Mr Hollande said.

"I hope that we can say to the Greeks that Europe is ready to add measures to help growth and support economic activity so that there is a return to growth in Greece at a time when it is in recession."

History of debt

Greece has gone from one crisis to the next since a debt downgrade in 2009. There is growing anger over soaring unemployment and falling living standards. Protests and riots have become common and the country faces an uncertain political future.

Ms Merkel added that Germany and France are prepared "to study the possibility of additional growth measures in Greece" if Athens said they needed them.

The main point of disagreement in Greece is over the international bailout deal which requires austerity measures to be implemented.

The leader of the Pasok party, Evangelos Venizelos, has blamed others for the failure to reach a deal.

"The country is unfortunately heading again to elections under very bad circumstances because certain people coldly put their short-term party interests above the national interest.," he said.

"I'm sure that those who did that misinterpreted the will and the mandate of the Greek people."

Opinion polls suggest anti-austerity parties will make further gains when the new polls are held.

Sorry, this video has expired Australia's Greek community worried about crisis ( Stephanie March )

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