Berlin, 06/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Berlin on Monday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder received the French President and Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac and Lionel Jospin in the framework of an informal summit. At a joint press conference, Schroeder and Chirac declared that Germany and France would prepare March's Barcelona Summit in close collaboration. The Chancellor and President confirmed their commitment to enlargement and membership of ten candidate countries in 2004: "Germany and France unambiguously recognise the historic need for enlargement", the Chancellor stressed. Berlin and Paris will continue to co-operate in preparing this enlargement and the Convention on the future of Europe, added Mr. Chirac. Regarding diplomacy, the French President recalled that the Union would continue to demand a political solution to the conflict in the Middle East. He also welcomed the pledge of a $4.5 billion grant for Afghanistan announced on the occasion of the Tokyo Conference in January. The President considered that it had not been necessary to broach question of the plan for the troop carrier plane A400M to which Airbus military should provide body. He said he was confident as to the funding of the promises of purchase made by Germany. As reminder, France and the United Kingdom have shown a certain concern over the funding of the 73 aircraft that Germany said it was prepared to purchase; only 40 orders have been provided for in the budget 2002 adopted in Berlin.