German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is convening a closely watched summit with top business and labour representatives on Wednesday, as his government prepares for an intensive month of negotiations on a broad package of reforms ahead of the summer break.
Merz's administration has struggled in recent weeks to agree on several key issues, including reforms to the labour market, social policy, taxes and cuts to bureaucracy.
Among those due to attend the meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin on Wednesday are senior politicians from Merz's conservative alliance - made up of his Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) - and their coalition partners from the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
In addition, leading figures from business groups such as the Confederation of Germany Employers' Associations and unions, including the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), are expected to appear.
Government ministers have sought to dampen expectations of a major breakthrough at the summit, but time is running out for the coalition to reach an agreement before lawmakers leave Berlin after the final parliamentary sitting on July 10.
Polls have shown the coalition parties sliding for months ahead of a trio of important state elections in September, with Merz's approval ratings plunging amid mounting frustration at the government's failure to turn around the struggling German economy.
