Merkel hopes EU adopts growth package

Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel says she hopes European leaders adopt a 130 billion euro 162 billion stimulus package this week,in a gesture to French President Francois Hollande despite their differences over how to end Europes spiraling debt crisis.

The two leaders went into talks Wednesday night sharply opposed over whether to share debt among the 17 nations that use the euro,and how much sovereignty to surrender over national budgets.

The two leaders go to Brussels on Thursday to meet other European Union leaders for a two-day summit they both called important for Europes future.