Analysis:Germany's chancellor pursues what she views as politically possible rather than pursuing fixed wish lists at the risk of failure, writes Derek Scallyin Heiligendamm
Angela Merkel left no doubt on Thursday evening about who was in charge. Hours after presenting a climate change compromise at the G8 summit, the German chancellor sat on a seaside terrace in Heiligendamm enjoying the Baltic breeze and an after-work drink.
Like any woman in a group of men - particularly with the world's cameras pointed at her - Merkel was the centre of attention and loving it. Around her sat the seven other world leaders who, despite their importance, couldn't help looking like seven suited dwarves, extras in the Angela Merkel Show.
President George Bush insisted she try his non-alcoholic beer, but Merkel stuck to her wine. After all, she'd already got what she wanted from Bush earlier: enough concessions on climate change to call her summit a success.
Bush asked her if she was happy with the deal."Almost 100 per cent," she replied. "Almost?" he replied with a wink. Over lunch, he had agreed with other leaders to "seriously consider" reducing greenhouse gases by "at least 50 per cent" by 2050, and that the future of climate change talks lies within the UN.
Although Merkel and her officials couldn't get the US to agree to binding emissions targets, they got everything else they wanted, in particular the agreement from Washington that global warming is a man-made problem. The climate deal may be aspirational rather than mandatory, and Merkel's efforts don't guarantee a robust post-Kyoto climate agreement in 2012, but it has made sure everyone is starting at the same point and singing from the same hymn sheet.
The summit has cleared the way for environment ministers meeting in Bali at the end of the year to begin talks, present national proposals next year and agree on a Kyoto successor in 2009. By that stage, Bush's successor will be in office and Germany will be hoping that he or she doesn't just sign the deal, as happened with Kyoto, but that they also ratify the post-Kyoto accord.
When Bush was struck down by a mysterious stomach bug for a few hours yesterday, summit wags suggested the climate deal had been a bit much to swallow for the recent, reticent convert to the climate cause.
To make the future accord more palatable for Bush, the G8 proposal reflects US thinking on China and India and states that "the emerging industrial countries should be included" in a deal on greenhouse gas reductions "but the industrial nations have a leading role".
Despite diverging views on the weight of the German deal, there was consensus in Heiligendamm yesterday that by steering the G8 - in particular the US - back into the UN enclosure on climate change, Merkel has found an answer to G8 critics. They accuse the organisation of playing an unelected world government, responsible to no one, at the expense of the UN.
UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon declined to give his outright blessing for the G8 or its €100 million summit yesterday, but he told journalists he "regarded the partnership highly".
"We have new momentum from Heiligendamm that must be capitalised on," he said, announcing an extra climate session of the UN on September 24th. His officials were happy with the outcome and more outspoken in their praise for Merkel for getting "G8 recognition of the role of the UN as the only forum to solve this".
So everyone loves Angela? Not quite. As she enjoyed her drink on the terrace, U2 singer Bono was tearing strips off her on a Rostock concert stage.
He said he had become "depressed" during a meeting with Merkel when he got the impression she was fiddling the numbers on promised German African aid.
Mammy Merkel was unimpressed. "He wasn't so depressed that he couldn't perform in his concert yesterday," she said yesterday, pursing her lips.
"I know that for him it would have been nicer to get a funding promise without gaps to 2010," she said. "But I cannot provide that. Our parliamentary budget laws don't allow it. But he knows we are moving and that we are doing our best."
So Merkel gets must-try-harder sticker from Bono, and he learns a valuable lesson for future dealings: Merkel pursues what she views as politically possible at the time rather than pursuing fixed wish lists at the risk of failure. That's a lesson that the so-called O5 countries learned at this year's summit, too: take what you can while it's on offer.
On the menu for them was Germany's "Heiligendamm Process", a new initiative to integrate better without full membership five would-be members of the group - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. A series of "topic-driven talks" touching on innovation, freedom of investment and energy efficiency will take place and their results will be reported back during the next two summits. The five countries are welcome back but, effectively, on the same terms as now, putting on hold the talk of enlarging the G8.
After three days of talks, not to mention riots, blockades and high-speed boat chases, the media reaction on the summit is mixed.
The mixed-to-positive reaction in the international press is a long way from the hymns of praise in the domestic German media, mainly glowing in their praise for Merkel.
Surrounded by departing leaders, untested new leaders and ineffective and unknown leaders, many suggested the chancellor has reached the peak of her powers on the international stage.
After three days in the luxurious seaside Heiligendamm resort, without even a chance to dip her toes in the Baltic Sea, Bildnewspaper crowned Merkel "Miss World" yesterday. And that without a swimsuit round.