German Chancellor Angela Merkel held informal talks in Berlin this evening with International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde.
The two women discussed the eurozone crisis and upcoming summit of EU leaders on 30 January.
Neither woman spoke to the media after the meeting, but the IMF said that Ms Lagarde also held talks with other German officials, including Economy Minister and vice-Chancellor Philipp Roesler and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.
The meetings are part of a series of high-level EU talks, which will see Ms Merkel host Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti tomorrow.
Ms Lagarde is expected to travel to her native France for talks tomorrow with President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Ms Merkel said yesterday that Greece may not receive its next bailout payment unless it concludes an agreement with private investors on at least a 50% loss on their investment in Greek government bonds.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will travel to London on Thursday to have talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron.
The fact that the introduction of a financial transaction tax in the eurozone is being pushed by France, and given qualified support by Germany and Italy, is raising concerns in both London and Dublin.
