French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his agreement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's call for tougher financial regulations, including a global tax on banks and financial transactions.

After a meeting in Berlin on Monday, the leaders of the Europe's two biggest economies announced they are "determined to speak with one voice" more than before.

Sarkozy said he now supported Germany's proposal to withdraw the voting rights of EU members in serious violation of the bloc's deficit rules, and also endorsed Merkel's inclusive "vision" for economic governance in all 27 member-countries.

The two leaders also declared a plan to jointly write to the Canadian prime minister saying the G20 summit, to be held in Toronto later this month, should result in a global bank tax.

Canada, with support from Russia and Australia, had successfully campaigned against such a tax, arguing that it would unfairly punish countries that kept out of trouble during the economic crisis.

Reports say G20 members are seeking various ways to keep their pledge that taxpayers will not have to fund another bank bailout.