Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the nation's business and political leaders to meet next week, a government spokesman said Tuesday, as Europe's largest economy faces its biggest downturn since the World War II, Amid signs that the global recession had tightened its grip on Germany during the first months of the year, Merkel's planned economic summit comes as the country starts to gear up for a national election scheduled for September this year.

The talks, to be held in Merkel's Berlin office are to focus on the economic pressures currently facing the nation as well as the effectiveness of the two recently-launched government stimulus packages.

Merkel has resisted pressure to consider further fiscal measures. A government spokesman said there were no plans to discuss a third stimulus programme at the meeting. (dpa)