Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to host a special meeting of key European nations later this month to prepare for the London summit of the G20 in April, a government spokesman said Monday.

Spokesman Thomas Steg said the leaders of all European members of the G20 group had been invited to attend the talks in Berlin on February 22.

A forum for cooperation and consultation on matters related to to the international financial system, the G20 held its first summit in November 2008 in Washington.

The London summit is due to take place on April 2.

The G20 groups the leading industrialized nations linked in the G8 as well as other major economic powers and emerging economies. (dpa)