Germany's coalition government has agreed to extend the lifetime of the country's nuclear power stations. According to the German news agency dpa, the planned changes would mean that newer reactors built after 1980 would stay open for 14 years longer than originally planned. Older plants would be kept open for an additional eight years. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen and Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle confirmed later on Sunday evening that the extension had been agreed upon. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was hosting a summit in Berlin on the future of nuclear energy in Germany amid a long-running row about extending the lifespan of the country's nuclear power plants.