After Germany and France failed to get the 18th G7 summit to agree on ways to assure the safety of deteriorating nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union , Waigel pledged that public funds from the West would nonetheless be mobilized not simply to repair dangerous plants but " to change the whole energy policy in these states so they can conserve energy , develop alternative energy sources and thereby create more leeway for shutting down plants that are unsafe . " Under the leadership of Kohl and Waigel , the adoption of a common currency became central to Germany 's goals of political and economic integration in Europe
18th G7 summit
18th G7 summit
Theo Waigel