Berlin, March 13 (RHC) -- The leaders of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU) and German Social Democrats (SPD) revealed the key priorities of Germany's new federal government on Monday.

Speaking to the press before the "grand coalition" agreement is signed in a formal ceremony, German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel called for the swift implementation of the policy proposals listed in the document.

"The time has finally come to begin working," Merkel said, in a reference to the six months it took to form a coalition government since federal elections were held.

The Christian Democratic Union leader also drew attention to eurozone reforms as a key priority for Berlin. The entire federal cabinet was of the conviction that the banking and capital markets unions needed to be completed rapidly as crucial step in the institutional development of the single currency.

Merkel cautioned her coalition partners that "a lot of work" lay ahead of them but said she was "optimistic" that the Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union and German Social Democrats would cooperate together successfully.