Handelsblatt reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday rejected a call from Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero for “EU-solidarity” for Greece. She also warned that the euro would not be stable without radical cuts in the budget deficits of member states: “Only if the financial markets evaluate that Greece can handle the reforms, will the euro be able to become stable agai...

Following a tense meeting yesterday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou confirmed that the referendum he surprisingly announced on Monday would effectively decide on whether Greece would remain in the eurozone.

At yesterday’s one-day European summit EU leaders, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, refused to commit to any bailout of Greece. Instead, EU leaders made a general pledge to take “determined and co-ordinated action if needed” to prop up the euro. According to the Telegraph, Merkel said, “Greece is a part of the European Union and won't be left on its own, but the...

Following yesterday’s phone conference with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a joint statement that they were “convinced that the future of Greece is in the euro area”, in a further bid to dismiss talk of Greece being forced to leave the eurozone.

For someone who had just finished 16 hours of intensive talks on a rescue package for Greece and the eurozone, German chancellor Angela Merkel seems to find little to faze her

Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and George Papandreou are in crisis talks about Greek debt. There are rumours that they are preparing an "orderly default" for Greece. But, officially, Merkel is still pressing ahead with implementing the existing Greek debt deals. This meeting also has a domestic context for Merkel. According to the FT, she is determined to stamp on the growing disqui...

I have just visited the two countries that are making the headlines in the European newspapers – Germany and Greece. During my trip, I met officials, journalists, and key advisers to both Prime Minister Papandréou and Chancellor Merkel. Sitting on the flight back to London I have regrettably come to the conclusion that the Euro is probably done for – or that Greece will default in...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned yesterday (9 January) that Greece must make rapid progress on its second rescue package &# including a voluntary write-down on its public debt held by private creditors &# before it receives further EU aid. More »

The FT and WSJ report that Germany is leaning towards involving the IMF in a potential Greek bailout, with the WSJ quoting a senior German official saying that Angela Merkel is “open to a financial participation by the IMF” in any aid package for Greece.

The front page of FT Deutschland reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is actively working for a Greek default. The paper quotes a government source saying, “That's what we are pushing for.” In an interview with FAZ yesterday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble suggested that bigger write downs for Greek bondholders may be needed under the second Greek bailout p...