The prime minister is to attend a summit with Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac on Saturday.

The talks with the leaders of the German and French governments will take place in Berlin, Number 10 announced on Tuesday.

The talks are expected to focus on Iraq as well as other key European developments.

France has recently demanded a rapid transition to self government in Baghdad.

But the US and Britain have resisted moves through the United Nations and remain committed to a transitional phase during which the coalition remain in control of the country.

The three-way summit is being seen as an attempt to bridge the divide which emerged over the war in Iraq.

Following the meeting, prime minister Aznar of Spain will meet Tony Blair at Chequers on Sunday.

Aznar has been Blair's principal European ally over Iraq and also shares his commitment to driving through the Lisbon agenda of economic reforms.

The meetings follow Sweden's referendum decision to stay out of the euro and the collapse of World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico.

Conspicuously absent will be prime minister Berlusconi of Italy, the current president of the EU.

The last time Blair, Chirac and Schroeder met Berlusconi insisted on being invited himself.

But Downing Street denied the same problem would arise this time. "I do not see the guest list getting bigger," the prime minister's official spokesman said.

"It will be a chance for a fairly wide-ranging discussion on economic matters and international affairs. Iraq will be discussed and also other European matters."

"There have been informal discussions but it makes sense to continue those discussions now.

"This is an informal chance for them to get together and discuss a range of issues. There was a general consensus that it would be sensible at this time to have such a meeting."

Number 10 insisted that the summit would not be an attempt to strike a deal over a new UN resolution on Iraq following talks between foreign ministers in Geneva.

"The dynamic driving the UN resolution has shifted from Geneva back to New York," the spokesman added. "It will proceed at its own pace."