Angela Merkel

ROUNDUP: German coalition declared solid, no election date change

ROUNDUP: German coalition declared solid, no election date change Berlin  - Germany's coalition partners confirmed Monday that the country's general election would not be brought forward, despite recent cracks in the governing bloc as parties have begun to position themselves ahead of the polls due September.

The Social Democrats (SPD), in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU), said Monday that the government coalition would continue to work together to address the country's economic crisis.

Memorial service held for victims of German shooting

Memorial service held for victims of German shooting Winnenden, Germany - Church bells rang out across the south-west German town of Winnenden on Saturday as a memorial service got under way for victims of the school shooting that left 16 dead.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Horst Koehler were among the congregation at the Roman Catholic church of St Karl Borromaeus (Charles Borromeo) where the service was held.

EU should only finance doable projects, Germany's Merkel says

EU should only finance doable projects, Germany's Merkel says Brussels - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday threatened to scupper plans to use European Union funds to stimulate the economy, insisting the money should only be used to finance projects capable of delivering immediate results.

"Any additional measures should only be taken if a substantial part of these measures can be implemented very quickly. Otherwise, they would not help tackle the crisis," Merkel said as she arrived for an EU summit in Brussels.

Merkel warns against protectionism

Merkel warns against protectionismBerlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Thursday against protectionism in the face of the global economic and financial downturn.

"We will master the crisis together," she told parliament ahead of a European Union summit beginning in Brussels later in the day.

Merkel said cooperation and not protectionism was the best way to combat the crisis, the effects of which have been felt around the globe.

Merkel, Sarkozy call for concrete market reforms

Merkel, Sarkozy call for concrete market reformsBerlin/Paris - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy stepped up their call for next month's summit of the world's most powerful economies to agree to concrete measures for overhauling the global financial sector.

In a joint letter ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) richest and emerging economies' summit in London, Merkel and Sarkozy said the meeting needed to produce "concrete results for reinforcing international financial regulation" and to draw up an action plan aimed at strengthening the role of global financial institutions.

EXTRA: Merkel insists G20 summit will succeed

Merkel insists G20 summit will succeedLondon  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel German expressed confidence Saturday that the leaders of the world biggest economic powers would be able to bridge their differences and reach agreement at their summit next month on steps to combat the global recession.

Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Merkel said she was "very optimistic that we can come up with good results" at the London summit of the Group of 20 (G20) states.

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