Outgoing Schröder Gets Date with Chirac

Outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder will have a working dinner in Paris with French President Jacques Chirac on Friday to prepare for an informal EU summit in London later this month, Chirac's office said. "In the context of preparations for the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government on October 27 in London, the president will hold a working dinner for Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Friday," a spokesman said. Angela Merkel, who has been designated Germany's next chancellor, has been informed of the dinner, the Elysee palace said. The Christian Democrat leader will not take office till November, and Schröder is to represent Germany at the summit at Hampton Court, on the outskirts of London. Chirac and Schröder had planned to meet on September 6 to discuss the summit, but the talks were postponed because of Chirac's hospitalisation with a vascular disorder. Hosted by Prime Minister Tony Blair, the summit is to focus on social issues and the challenge of globalization.