German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a joint news conference with France's President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace following a joint cabinet meeting in Paris November 24, 2008. Merkel said on Monday cuts in value added tax (VAT) would be a response to the global financial crisis in some countries, but this was not the case for Germany and France.REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer (FRANCE)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech to members of her conservative Christian Democrats in Berlin, September 22, 2008. Wage gains in Germany have been moderate in recent years, and this will likely remain the case, Merkel said on Monday.
REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel drinks a beer during the Oktoberfest in Berlin September 17, 2008.REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke (GERMANY)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel watches the semifinal match between Germany and Turkey in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland.(AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, celebrates as UEFA President Michel Platini, center, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, left, look on during the semifinal match between Germany and Turkey in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Euro 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Germany defeated Turkey 3-2.(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, right and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, arrive at an official dinner at the residence of Israeli President Shimon Peres, not pictured, in Jerusalem, Monday, June 23, 2008.(AP Photo/Menahem Kahana, Pool)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hair is scattered by the wind of the helicopters of U.S. President George W. Bush during the departure from the government guest house 'Schloss Meseberg', 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) north of Berlin June 11, 2008.REUTERS/Johannes Eisele (GERMANY)
Austrian Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer (L), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) and German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung react before the Group B Euro 2008 soccer match between Germany and Austria at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna June 16, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) and Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer wait before the Group B Euro 2008 soccer match between Germany and Austria at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna June 16, 2008. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach(AUSTRIA) MOBILE OUT. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) talks with Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa on the first day of an EU summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels June 19, 2008. European leaders will struggle on Thursday to put an EU reform treaty back on track after Ireland's "No" vote, but will seek to salvage the bloc's dented image by talking up possible action on rising fuel prices.REUTERS/Thierry Roge (BELGIUM)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to questions during a media conference after an EU summit in Brussels, Friday June 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts on the huge signal horn she is about to ring to open the 'Kiel Week' a sailing event at Kiel, northern Germany, on Saturday, June 21, 2008.(AP Photo/Heribert Proepper)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts as the humanoid robot HRP-2 moves during the opening walk at the Hanover industrial fair in Hanover, April 21, 2008. The world's leading fair for industrial technology, with about 5,100 exhibitors from 62 nations, runs till April 25. The exhibitors will showcase their latest trends in automation, technologies for maximizing energy efficiency and security and automotive solutions with Japan as this year's guest country.REUTERS/Johannes Eisele (GERMANY)
