A draft statement seen by Reuters indicates that the European Union and United States will come to an agreement at a summit on Monday, acknowledging that climate change is a critical issue that demands immediate and ongoing global efforts. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, visiting Washington for the first time since becoming EU president, is pushing for the Bush administration to take specific actions to reduce the greenhouse gases linked to climate change. Merkel is hopeful that the joint statement will set the stage for a more comprehensive agreement on combating global warming at the G8 summit in June, which she will host in Heiligendamm. She expressed optimism about progress on climate and energy efficiency, and emphasized the importance of using this as a foundation for a broader agreement involving the G8 countries, as well as potentially India and China. The statement regarding energy security, efficiency, and climate change will be introduced alongside a wider "Transatlantic Economic Partnership" aimed at reducing expensive non-tariff barriers to trade between the EU and United States. Within this agreement, the parties will work towards aligning regulatory standards and collaborating in areas such as intellectual property, trade security, investment, and financial markets. A council, overseen by EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and White House economic adviser Allan Hubbard, will be established to track progress in aligning regulations and provide annual reports to leaders of the EU and US. Apart from the established agenda, Merkel and Bush will also discuss various international issues, including Iran's nuclear program and Middle East peace. Recent comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin criticizing US plans for a missile defense system in central Europe and suspending Moscow's commitments under a major arms treaty have brought Russian relations to the forefront as well. Washington claims that the shield is necessary to defend against threats from countries like Iran and North Korea, while Moscow views it as a provocation and intrusion into its former sphere of influence. Merkel emphasized the importance of discussing this issue with Russia through the NATO-Russia council, although she stated that it would not be the main focus of her talks with Bush. German officials praised the joint declaration on climate change as a positive step for the Bush administration, but the statement does not include any specific commitments to take action. The draft emphasizes the commitment of the EU and US to reduce greenhouse gases and recognizes the findings of the IPCC regarding the impact of rising temperatures on the planet. It calls for the development and implementation of advanced technologies to reduce global emissions and promises cooperation to achieve results at Heiligendamm and in preparation for the U.N. meeting on climate change in Bali, Indonesia in December. During her fourth trip to Washington, Merkel has formed a strong bond with Bush, repairing strained relations that suffered under her predecessor Gerhard Schroeder's disagreements with the US president on the Iraq war. However, as the Heiligendamm summit approaches in less than six weeks, she faces a challenging task in convincing Bush to support comprehensive, enforceable global measures to combat climate change. German officials are also worried that the escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow over the missile shield and the impending conflict over Kosovo independence could overshadow the summit scheduled for June 6-8.