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| Reporter awkwardly sings 'Happy Birthday' to Angela Merkel, Chancellor responds with customary cool | Reporter awkwardly sings 'Happy Birthday' to Angela Merkel, Chancellor responds with customary cool |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The hangover from her country’s sterling World Cup win is only just starting to wear off, but there is another reason the German Chancellor will be celebrating this week – it’s her 60th birthday. | The hangover from her country’s sterling World Cup win is only just starting to wear off, but there is another reason the German Chancellor will be celebrating this week – it’s her 60th birthday. |
| Angela Merkel spent the turn of her birthday chairing a rather sober news conference in Brussels – until one jubilant reporter piped up with a rendition of Happy Birthday for the leader. | |
| Scroll down for video | Scroll down for video |
| The German journalist even referred to the politician not using her first name but using Bundeskanzlerin, her official title. | The German journalist even referred to the politician not using her first name but using Bundeskanzlerin, her official title. |
| Poised and gracious Ms Merkel found the event rather amusing and said “danke” [thank you]. | Poised and gracious Ms Merkel found the event rather amusing and said “danke” [thank you]. |
| According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Chanellor joked that not many people had joined in: “I should have sung along, then it would have been better.” | According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Chanellor joked that not many people had joined in: “I should have sung along, then it would have been better.” |
| She also revealed that she had received flowers from other leaders at the EU summit she was attending. | She also revealed that she had received flowers from other leaders at the EU summit she was attending. |
| Leaving the news conference at 1.30am she reportedly told the assembled group: "Good night. Thank you for the serenade." | Leaving the news conference at 1.30am she reportedly told the assembled group: "Good night. Thank you for the serenade." |
| Ms Merkel was joined by French President Francois Hollande and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at the summit earlier in the day to discuss the filling of two top EU positions. | Ms Merkel was joined by French President Francois Hollande and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at the summit earlier in the day to discuss the filling of two top EU positions. |
| The leaders were unable to come to a conclusion and will instead meet again on 30 August to discuss who will take on the roles of foreign affairs chief and European Council president. | The leaders were unable to come to a conclusion and will instead meet again on 30 August to discuss who will take on the roles of foreign affairs chief and European Council president. |
| Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, said: “We are not yet at the point where we can get a consensual solution on a full package of appointments. We will continue consultations.” | Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, said: “We are not yet at the point where we can get a consensual solution on a full package of appointments. We will continue consultations.” |
| They also spoke on matters of Gaza, concluding: “The tragic events of the past days highlight the urgent need for all parties to work towards a resumption of the diplomatic process and to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | They also spoke on matters of Gaza, concluding: “The tragic events of the past days highlight the urgent need for all parties to work towards a resumption of the diplomatic process and to pursue a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| “The European Union reiterates its offer to both parties of a package of European political and economic support and of a Special Privileged Partnership with the European Union in the event of a final peace agreement.” | “The European Union reiterates its offer to both parties of a package of European political and economic support and of a Special Privileged Partnership with the European Union in the event of a final peace agreement.” |