German and French telecoms joining to dominate UK market

Germans tip-top for generosity on holiday

Germans on holiday may have a reputation for annoying others by staking out their claim to sun loungers with a towel before breakfast – but it seems they are also among the most generous and savvy tippers. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

• 03/05 Bavaria lures city-folk with farm work holidays »
• 21/04 Foreign visitors prefer fairytales and ruins »

Central Bank: there is no 'Plan B' for Greece

The European Central Bank is not working on any alternative plan to Greece staying in the single currency a top official said on Monday, dismissing ideas that a “Plan B” was in development. READ »

• 20/05 Obama and Merkel agree: austerity and growth »
• 19/05 Merkel denies suggesting Greek vote on euro »
• 18/05 Merkel ally: 'Eurozone could handle Greek exit' »

Merkel denies suggesting Greek vote on euro

As Greece prepared itself for new parliamentary elections, the sense of crisis was exacerbated by confusion over whether German Chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested a Greek referendum on keeping the euro. READ (12 COMMENTS) »

• 18/05 Merkel ally: 'Eurozone could handle Greek exit' »
• 09/05 'Greece out of euro' calls multiply in Germany »
• 13/04 Protesters drop golden turd by Athens embassy »

Metalworkers get pay rise, vow to take on Opel

Some 800,000 metalworkers in the south-western German state of Baden-Württemberg won a 4.3 percent pay rise after marathon negotiations, their union IG Metall said on Saturday. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Merkel ally: 'Eurozone could handle Greek exit'

The eurozone could absorb a Greek exit from the bloc, although it would prove extremely costly, a top member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partners said on Friday. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

EU agrees on growth and austerity mix ahead of G8

The leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy and senior EU officials agreed Thursday that both budget consolidation and growth are necessary to tackle the eurozone crisis, Berlin said. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Greeks and Spanish flee to Germany in job hunt

Fleeing rising unemployment, people from Greece and Spain poured into Germany last year, fuelling the highest rise in immigration for 16 years, data released by the Federal Statistics Office on Wednesday showed. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

• 09/05 Germany 'best EU state for migrant job hunters' »
• 24/04 Foreign students quit Germany in droves »
• 17/04 No-name job letters 'help women and migrants' »

Freelancers fight forced pension plan

Self-employed workers in Germany are mounting an offensive against a proposed law that would force them to pay at least €350 per month into the public pension system. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

• 20/03 Pensioners will be allowed to earn more  »
• 28/12 More Germans forced into early retirement »
• 15/12 Struggling pensioners forced back to work »

German investor confidence tumbles

German investor confidence fell sharply in May, following five straight months of increase data showed Tuesday, while a poll of Financial analysts showed growing concern about the eurozone debt crisis. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

'Made in Germany' goods help dodge recession

Germany has avoided recession despite the resurgent eurozone debt crisis, official data showed on Tuesday, confirming the resilience of Europe's top economy to the surrounding turmoil. READ (9 COMMENTS) »