The leaders of France and Germany have called for unemployment to be put at the centre of political debate in the European Union.

Their declaration was issued at the end of a summit in the eastern German city of Potsdam.

With nearly ten percent of the European Union workforce unemployed, the French and German leaders said EU governments should commit themselves to binding targets for job creation.

They also pledged to seek common European policies on taxation and workers' rights.

The declaration said France and Germany were determined to give a fresh momentum to their relations in the interests of European unity.

But the two countries admitted they needed further talks in order to agree a common position on reforming EU institutions.