Sarkozy and Merkel to present projects for long-term cooperation

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were to meet in Paris later Thursday to launch 80 joint projects intended to deepen bilateral cooperation over the next decade, DPA reported.

The two leaders were to be accompanied by nearly their entire teams of ministers for the 12th Franco-German cabinet meeting since 2003.

But it will be the first since last year's German elections, which installed the centre-right coalition of Merkel's CDU and the FDP of Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

The projects included in what has been dubbed Agenda 2020 are expected to focus mainly on creating long-term joint economic and financial policies.

According to Sarkozy's office, the two countries want to "reinforce the convergence of their economic analyses" and coordinate policies regarding global financial regulation.

In addition, Sarkozy and Merkel are expected to announce ambitious pro-environment projects concerning the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the construction of electric automobiles.

The proposals are also expected to include such pragmatic measures as the creation of a Franco-German school textbook and simplifying mixed French-German marriages.