UK prime minister David Cameron has said the EU should make negotiating new trade deals with fast-growing economies a priority, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Speaking yesterday, after a meeting in London with Italian prime minister Mario Monti, Cameron said the EU could boost growth by freeing trade in services as well as goods.

According to the paper, Monti agreed with Cameron saying that by extending free trade within the EU to all services would help boost growth.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reports Monti as promising UK taxpayers that Italy will not be asking for bailout funds following his commitment to spending cuts and labour market reforms.

The Italian prime minister's comments came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned it needed at least €389bn in extra funds to support indebted countries should they be locked out of international money markets.

According to the paper, fears that Italy will be forced to seek a bailout from the EU and IMF have increased uncertainty over the future of the single currency.

Elsewhere, the Independent says Monti described Cameron's demands for special attention at last month's EU summit as "unacceptable".

He hinted during his UK visit that it was misguided of Cameron to link the fiscal compact to the issue of financial regulation by Brussels, saying, "I don't think they are related topics."

The FT says the EU summit at the end of this month, aimed at developing a European growth strategy, will give Britain a chance to step up efforts after last month's veto.

The meeting resulted in what deputy prime minister Nick Clegg called a "damaging" rift with the other 26 member states.