French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday stressed the need to find out "emergency measures to protect jobs."

Heading a crisis summit gathering French trade unions and government officials, Sarkozy pointed to "the seriousness of the crisis (which) requires...to take decisions."

"The rapid evolution of the situation forces us both to go further and faster. We can not wait for the political maturity to decide," French head of state said, warning about the eventual impact of wait-and-see policy.

"Take refuge in a wait-and-see policy, it would be to agree with everyone who plays on the impotence of politics and trade unionism to prosper," he told union leaders.

"What immediate measures can be taken to protect jobs?" he asked without presenting specific proposals.

In remarks published in the presidency office the Elysee website, Sarkozy merely made a review on the country's economic and financial status-quo and highlighted the need to improve training for jobless people and part time workers and diversify the financing of social protection.

French trade unions fear competitiveness reforms would lead to additional austerity measures which could hit further French people.

They also reject the social VAT plan proposed by Sarkozy's government to reduce labor costs by shifting part of employers' social contributions on a tax increase on the value added.

According to a CSA poll, 73 percent of French people believe that Wednesday's summit will be fruitless and would not bring down increasing unemployment rate.

A final agreement is expected later this afternoon.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet