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France, Germany to Work in EU Summit Plan VOA News 5 Feb 2002 04:05 UTC 
Top leaders from France and Germany have agreed to work together as they plan for a March European Union summit in Barcelona.
In a Berlin meeting Monday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder joined French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in their commitment to expand the European Union by up to 10 nations.
The two nations agreed a year ago to hold a series of informal meetings every six-to-eight weeks. At last year's EU summit in Nice, France and Germany clashed over how much power each should have in the expanding economic bloc.
France is concerned about EU expansion eastward, on the periphery of an economically strong and reunited Germany. France also favors a loose European confederation, in which EU does not dilute national sovereignty or compromise its economic protections.
Germany, long a silent partner in European affairs, favors increased European integration, and supports eastward EU expansion that is set to include former Soviet Bloc nations.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
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