Merkel calls for stronger European political union

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed for a stronger European political union on Thursday amid growing international calls for action as fears of a Spanish banking meltdown fueled the eurozone crisis.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have presented a united front calling for an "immediate plan" for the debt-wracked eurozone, and Merkel was to meet Cameron in Berlin later in the day.

With pressure mounting for Europe to help stabilize Spain's banking system to avoid a costly bailout for the eurozone's fourth biggest economy, Merkel told German television that "more Europe" was needed.