The European Union and United States are expected to reach an agreement at a summit on Monday that acknowledges climate change as a significant challenge requiring immediate and continuous global efforts, as stated in a draft document obtained by Reuters. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, making her first visit to Washington since assuming the EU presidency, is urging the Bush administration to implement tangible measures to reduce the greenhouse gases linked to climate change. Merkel is hopeful that the joint statement will pave the way for a more comprehensive agreement on combating global warming at the upcoming June G8 summit she will host in Heiligendamm. She expressed optimism about progress on climate and energy efficiency during a press briefing in Washington prior to her meeting with President George W. Bush, and emphasized the importance of using this as a basis for a broader agreement involving G8 countries, as well as possibly India and China. The declaration regarding energy security, efficiency, and climate change will be introduced alongside a broader "Transatlantic Economic Partnership" aimed at reducing costly non-tariff barriers to trade between the EU and United States. Within this agreement, the partners will commit to aligning regulatory standards and collaborating in areas such as intellectual property, trade security, investment, and financial markets. A council, led by EU Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and White House economic adviser Allan Hubbard, will be established to oversee progress in aligning regulations and present yearly reports to EU and US leaders. Apart from the set agenda, Merkel and Bush will engage in discussions on various international issues ranging from Iran's nuclear program to Middle East peace. Relations with Russia have also come to the forefront following a strong speech by President Vladimir Putin criticizing US plans for a missile shield in central Europe and suspending Moscow's commitments under a key arms treaty. Washington believes the shield is necessary to defend against threats from countries like Iran and North Korea, while Moscow views it as a threat to its former sphere of influence. German Chancellor Merkel stated the importance of discussing the issue with Russia through the NATO-Russia council, although she clarified that it would not be the main focus of her talks with President Bush. The joint declaration on climate change has been hailed as a positive step for the Bush administration by German officials, but it lacks specific commitments to action. The draft emphasizes the need to stabilize greenhouse gases and recognizes the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which warned of the impacts of rising temperatures. It calls for the advancement and implementation of technologies to reduce global emissions and pledges cooperation to achieve results at the upcoming G8 summit and the U.N. meeting on climate change in Bali. During her fourth trip to Washington, Merkel has formed a strong bond with Bush, mending the strained relationship that occurred when her predecessor clashed with the US president over the Iraq war. However, with less than six weeks until the Heiligendamm summit, she faces a challenging task of convincing Bush to support more comprehensive international measures to combat climate change. German officials are also worried about the escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow regarding the missile shield and the upcoming conflict over Kosovo independence, potentially overshadowing the summit in June.