German Chancellor Angela Merkel held that there is a need of sufficient permanent rescue mechanism for the euro area in terms of size.

She said this before a summit meeting with European Union leaders on Friday.

She said that the calamity mechanism will be worked out in its details in anticipation of March.

The coalition that includes Angela Merkel's party has faced a huge defeat in the regional polls at North Rhine-Westphalia. This has been expected that this defeat can make a huge difference in the national politics.

In order to suppress the rumors regarding the ongoing tiff between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Finance Minister, the former stated that budget with intense disciplinary measures was needed budget as she backs the European Union aid to Greece.

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a crisis meeting of the nation's business and political leaders, a spokesman said Tuesday, as Europe's largest economy struggles to ward off its biggest downturn since the World War II. Scheduled for next week, Merkel's economic summit also comes as the country starts to gear up for a national election set for September this year.

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for "European solidarity" to help Malta address immigration from Africa, at a meeting Tuesday with Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

"The subject of illegal immigration is of great importance," the chancellor said, adding that the issue "calls for European solidarity."

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel was briefing opposition parties early Tuesday on a major rescue package to avert the worst effects of recession on Europe's biggest economy, and was set to make the moves public later

Berlin - The three parties supporting German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed at talks late Monday in Berlin on a fresh round of stimulus for the weakening German economy, caucus leaders at the meeting said.

Berlin - A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected criticism Thursday of her forthright support for Israel during the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Merkel's assessment, offered during her New Year address, matched that of the European Union foreign ministers, the spokesman said.

Berlin - Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, who faces a general election this September, topped the latest survey of personal popularity, the magazine Stern said Thursday.

Berlin - Leaders of Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition are expected to decide next month on a new stimulus package to help Germany out of recession, a government spokesman said Monday.