HIGHLIGHTS-EU and euro zone finance ministers' meeting=2

On Monday:

ECB PRESIDENT JEAN-CLAUDE TRICHET

On the United States' stated strong-dollar policy:

"In the present circumstances I consider very important what has been affirmed and reaffirmed by the U.S. authorities including the secretary of the Treasury and the president of the United States, according to whom the strong-dollar policy is in the interests of the United States of America."

FRENCH ECONOMY MINISTER CHRISTINE LAGARDE

At news conference: "I simply want to underline in passing ... that the president of the ECB, contrary to his custom, chose to talk today about exchange rates when entering the meeting."

"He used the same terms as the Eurogroup so there is clearly a coherence and consistency in the remarks expressed."