Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gets out of her car as she arrives to attend the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gets out of her car as she arrives to attend the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (3rdL), French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (2ndL) and members of german and french government pose for a family picture at the end of Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (3rdL), French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (2ndL) and members of german and french government pose for a family picture at the end of Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy share a smile at the beginning of a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2ndL) walk in a street in the southern German city of Freiburg prior to a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2ndL) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) great wellwishers as they walk in a street in the southern German city of Freiburg prior to a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) yawns during th 67th sitting of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament in Berlin, October 27, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel rode to the defence of a controversial Franco-German plan to toughen Europe's fiscal rules, ahead of a summit set to be dominated by a row over the proposals.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not seen) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C) great people on the Christmas market in the southern German city of Freiburg prior to a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (3rdL), French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (2ndL) and members of german and french government pose for a family picture at the end of Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) arrive for a family picture as German Foreign Minister and vice-chancellor Guido Westerwelle (2nd R) gestures at the end of Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and the government's spokesman Steffen Seibert arrive for a session of the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin September 15, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid down the gauntlet to her global partners on the issue of taxing the financial markets, insisting she would not give up the fight despite hefty opposition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) walk behing a bodyguard in a street in the southern German city of Freiburg prior to a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrive for a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectatoprs during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2nd L) review an honor guard prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy chat during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy chat during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy review troups prior a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy review troups prior a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (3rdL), French Prime Minister Francois Fillon (2ndL) and members of german and french government pose for a family picture at the end of Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy review an honor guard prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) walk behing a bodyguard in a street in the southern German city of Freiburg prior to a Franco-German cabinet meeting on December 10, 2010 in the southern German city of Freiburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel signs autographs to spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles as she receives a flower from a citizen of Riga on September 7, 2010. Fresh from her controversial announcement that Germany aims to postpone abandoning nuclear energy, Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 6 threw Berlin's weight behind a planned four-nation plant in Lithuania.'We'll do everything we can to ensure that this construction gets backing,' Merkel told reporters during a visit to the Baltic state, saying German authorities could help bring potential investors on board.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy give a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators taking pictures of her during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to young female football players as she tours projects in the impoverished suburb of Khayelitsha, about 35Km from the centre of Cape Town, on July 3, 2010. Merkel visited a multi-purpose development, still under construction, and a football / lifeskills project, both funded by the German government. Angela Merkel will later be among the German fans at tonight's Football World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy share a smile at the beginning of a press conference during the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Bundestag president Norbert Lammert chat as they arrive for the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greets spectators during the central celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the German reunification on October 3, 2010 in front of the town hall of the northern German city of Bremen. Several hundred thousand people were expected in the northern city of Bremen for a series of street parties and official events led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself brought up in East Germany.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) enters the building with the government's spokesman Steffen Seibert as she arrives for a session of the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin on September 15, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid down the gauntlet to her global partners on the issue of taxing the financial markets, insisting she would not give up the fight despite hefty opposition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and the government's spokesman Steffen Seibert arrive for a session of the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin September 15, 2010. German Chancellor Angela Merkel laid down the gauntlet to her global partners on the issue of taxing the financial markets, insisting she would not give up the fight despite hefty opposition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy review an honor guard prior to the German-French consultations on December 10, 2010 in Freiburg, southern Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met for talks expected to be dominated by the eurozone crisis. The meeting, also attended by French and German ministers, comes a week ahead of an EU summit at which the bloc's 27 leaders are due to sign off on a new permanent crisis mechanism.