Growth in the German economy has slowed sharply. Germany, which had been driving the economic recovery in the euro zone, saw its economy grow by just 0.1% in the previous quarter, according to figures from the national statistics office. Growth in the euro zone as a whole also slowed. The figures come ahead of a key meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, scheduled for later this morning. The two leaders are set to discuss ways to solve the euro zone debt crisis that has threatened to engulf Italy and Spain and has sparked turmoil on global stock markets. Joining us from Germany is Steve Evans, correspondent for our partner the BBC.