Talks would examine all possibilities for building a government, including another “grand coalition” between the SPD and Merkel's conservatives | Christian Bruna/EPA German SPD agrees to talks with Angela Merkel’s conservatives The SPD leadership’s decision to open talks about all potential options for a government was unanimous.

BERLIN — Germany’s center-left Social Democrats agreed to enter into talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives about possibly forming a new government, according to a report Monday.

SPD leadership met Monday and unanimously decided on opening talks with Merkel’s Christian Democrats and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, Reuters reported.

The talks would examine all possibilities for building a government, including another “grand coalition” between the SPD and the conservatives or a Merkel-led minority government in which the SPD agrees to support her on certain issues.

The news comes after SPD leader Martin Schulz met with Merkel, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and CSU leader Horst Seehofer last week. At the time, Schulz said it was not “automatic” that talks would result in another “grand coalition,” reiterating that multiple options are on the table.

After receiving just over 20 percent in September’s general election, Schulz announced that the SPD would go into opposition and would not be available to form a government with Merkel’s conservatives. However, under pressure to reconsider after talks collapsed between the conservatives, the liberal Free Democrats and the Greens, Schulz agreed late last month to consider coalition talks.

SPD members will vote on the issue later this week, as well as for their party leadership, at the national party congress in Berlin.

Speaking on Monday at SPD headquarters in Berlin, Schulz said: "We will explore whether and how the formation of a government is possible in Germany.”

He said there are ways in which talks could progress, adding that the SPD’s goal in any potential governing situation is to ensure the “maximum” amount of SPD policy is implemented.

“We know what we want with regard to content,” Schulz said, adding that social democratic “basic values” and the party’s 2017 campaign platform would be starting points for their position in discussions.

Schulz noted that SPD party members will get the “final word” on any formal coalition talks later this week at the national party congress, and that how they vote will provide “clarity” on the way forward.