German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen (L) and Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle talk to each other as they arrive to address a new conference in Berlin September 6, 2010. Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she was confident her government's plans to extend the lifespans of Germany's nuclear power plants will not need the approval of the upper house of parliament. Merkel told a news conference in Berlin that she was confident the Bundesrat, where her government has no majority, would not need to agree to the law to extend the lifespans of Germany's 17 nuclear power plants. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT)