German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Barack Obama discussed the European financial crisis on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Mexico on Monday, dpa reported.
The leaders were in agreement that "further steps for political integration" in Europe are necessary, according to an unnamed German government source.
he discussions lasted longer than the planned half hour ahead of the start of G20 meetings that will focus primarily on Europe's problems. Obama has regularly called on European leaders to find a solution to their debt crisis.