The German parliament has voted in favor of the EU’s permanent bailout scheme and more lenient budget rules. Chancellor Merkel has been criticized with making a U turn in policy, easing borrowing costs on flagging banks without additional austerity. “Today Germany, with the approval of the fiscal pact and the ESM [European Stability Mechanism] by all parties in both houses of parliament, will... 

Most EU members are in favor of issuing eurobonds, but Germany opposes mutual debt obligations. Don Coxe, an investor and chairman of Coxe Advisors LLP, says Berlin cannot afford to hand out more bailouts when confidence in EU banks is crumbling. ­The talks are taking place in Brussels, where EU leaders are meeting for two days to agree on new growth measures for the union. RT: In a recent blog article... 

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere Germany has strongly opposed military intervention in Syria, adding voice to the calls for a political solution to the country’s prolonged crisis. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Wednesday warned that military action — strongly supported by Britain, France and the US — could easily lead to an all-out war in Syria. “We must... 

Western European countries are preparing the ground for the revision of the Schengen border control and recovery. France and Germany are primarily interested in taking such measures aimed at ensuring the EU’s internal borders. The new French president Francois Hollande, as well as his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, is in favor of strengthening the fight against illegal migration. Enhancement... 

Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi The Syrian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement that Damascus expelled the ambassadors of the US, Britain, France, Turkey and some other states. Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi announced the list of expelled diplomats on Tuesday. The expulsions came after Western states expelled Syrian diplomats from their countries last week. The ministry... 

Germany is supplying the Israeli Navy with submarines that are fully capable of being fitted to carry cruise missiles with nuclear-warheads, Spiegel reports. Thus, if Israel does indeed have any such missiles, it could deploy them immediately. ­The extensive military deal suggests that German shipyards are to supply Israel with six Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines, four of which have already... 

Several days ago, the world was shocked with the news from Europe. A family couple from Bosnia and Herzegovina had been keeping a young German woman as their slave for eight years. The victim of family violence is now 19 years of age. The Bosnian couple – Milenko Marinkovic, 52, and his wife Slavojka Marinkovic, 45, – were torturing and starving an underage girl, whose name was Karla.... 

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has expressed his country’s support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear energy program, saying Berlin is ready to provide Tehran with “technical assistance” in using the nuclear energy. Iran has the right to use the nuclear energy for civilian purposes, and we are ready to support Iran technically in this regard,... 

Ten years ago, the world’s youngest and most ambitious currency – the euro – became materialized. Twelve countries of the European Union launched the new monetary unit in circulation. The new currency was born in one of the largest cities of Germany – Frankfurt-am-Main – where the European Central Bank is headquartered. Citizens of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland,... 

A Loewe television using a TOLED screen, designed by Michael Friebe, was shortlisted in the 2011 iF Concept Design competition The television of the future could be a see-through panel which ‘vanishes’ when you turn it off – carrying on the current trend for ever-thinner and more unobtrusive sets. The technology – TOLED – actually exists, although it’s still fairly... 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel left little ground to hope she would abandon or moderate the austerity program for Europe as she warned that growth on new loans would push the EU into deeper crisis. “Growth through structural reform is sensible, important and necessary,” she said during an address to the German Parliament. “Growth through debt would throw us back to the beginning of the... 

Europeans are concerned about high fuel prices resulting from the Iran oil ban and its negative effects on the economic situation of their countries. A new poll conducted in five European countries shows most people are against imposing sanctions on Iran’s oil sector. A total of 2,100 adults in Germany, France, Austria, Sweden and Poland responded to the poll which was conducted by the German... 

The euro has dropped in value following the electoral defeat of ruling parties in France and Greece. The euro has dropped in value following the electoral defeat of ruling parties in France and Greece as new anxiety about the fate of EU austerity policies rattles financial markets. The currency sank to 1.29 dollars on Monday, its lowest level since January, after Socialist Francois Hollande beat President... 

Koran handouts in Germany: Freedom of religion vs. fears of Muslim extremism One of the most radical Muslim confessions is on an aggressive campaign of preaching ultra-conservative Islam in Germany. Protected by the freedom of religion act, they spread a message that raises concerns within German society. The Salafist community in Germany organized a campaign with long-term goal to put no fewer than... 

Angela Merkel (left) and Francois Hollande (right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Socialist Party presidential candidate Francois Hollande have had a war of words over how to handle the European debt crisis. It is “not for Germany to decide for the rest of Europe”, Hollande, who is the favorite in France’s May 6 run-off election, said on Friday, The Daily Telegraph reported. He...