FRANCE: PROGRESS

France's President Francois Hollande attends the recording of his New Year's speech at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Dec 31, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

French President Francois Hollande pledged "progress of all the fields and for everyone" in 2015 in his New Year speech.

"It's a message of confidence and determination that I address you tonight ... France is a great country and we have every reason to have confidence in ourselves providing that we move forward, be bold and refuse the status-quo," Hollande told French citizens.

The president, who is scheduled to host a high-profile international gathering on climate change by the end of 2015, said he is eying a "declaration on the rights of humanity to preserve the planet."

According to a Harris Interactive survey on Wednesday, Hollande ended 2014 with a good note after collecting more support to his controversial economic and social policy, with his popularity rising by 7 percentage points to 25 percent.

ITALY: RESIGNATION

However, situation in Italy is not the same. President Giorgio Napolitano confirmed his early resignation in the New Year greeting.

"My speech tonight will be destined also to the one who will soon take in the role of president I am about to leave, giving my resignation," he said at the very beginning of his speech.

The 89-year-old president said his age was making it increasingly difficult for him to do the job.

GERMANY: REFUGEES

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended Germany's welcome to refugees fleeing wars and rejected right-wing leaders' claims in her New Year speech.

Merkel rebuked anti-immigrant demonstrators, accusing right-wing leaders of having hatred in their hearts. "Do not follow those who are appealing to you! Because too often there is prejudice, coldness, even hatred in their hearts." she said.

The Chancellor addressed the issue of refugees in her New Year speech as a new movement, Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West (PEGIDA), has held a series of weekly demonstrations in the eastern city of Dresden to denounce Muslims in Germany and to protest against the recent wave of refugees entering the country.