We are 95 per cent of the way to a coalition deal, German SPD says
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are around 95 per cent of the way to reaching a coalition deal, an...
martin schulz
German parties add another day in coalition talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) plan to continue negotiations on Tuesday as they struggle to reach agreement on healthcare...
German parties make final push for coalition deal
Negotiators for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) reconvened on Monday to hammer out compromises on healthcare and labour policy,...
German parties agree on key migrant issue in coalition talks
Germany’s would-be coalition parties have reached a compromise on the divisive question of family reunions for migrants, both sides involved in the negotiations said on...
Split Social Democrats could sink Merkel’s coalition plans
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) tried on Tuesday to quash a grassroots rebellion against a blueprint agreed with Angela Merkel’s conservatives to enter formal talks...
SPD leader calls for eurozone budget ahead of Merkel meeting
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), who are expected to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s conservatives on forming a coalition government, said Europe needed...
German SPD considers propping up Merkel, but only if members agree
Germany’s Social Democrats agreed on Friday, under intense pressure, to hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on renewing their outgoing coalition government, but pledged that...
Merkel, Schulz urge undecided Germans to vote with far right gaining
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel, poised to win a fourth term in Sunday’s election, urged supporters on Saturday to keep fighting for votes with a...
German media bemoan grand coalition scenario after limp TV duel
A mood of pre-election apathy rippled through German media on Monday, as commentators concluded Angela Merkel‘s rival for chancellor had blown his best chance of depriving...
Merkel rejects electric car quota pushed by election rival Schulz
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday rejected a proposal made by her Social Democrat rivals to introduce quotas for electric cars in Europe, arguing the...
Pre-election turmoil as SPD-Greens lose majority in German state
ONE of Germany’s last centre-left coalitions composed of the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens lost its one-seat majority in the Lower Saxony state assembly on...
EU parliament launches misconduct probe into UKIP scuffle
The European Parliament launched a disciplinary inquiry on Friday into a scuffle between members of the UK Independence Party that left one British MEP in...
Schulz says Cyprus settlement talks should conclude as soon as possible
Efforts to solve the Cyprus problem should conclude as soon as possible and the European Union should contribute funds to the island’s reunification, President of...
Schulz tells Turkey Europe would not give in to threats over visa deal
European Parliament President Martin Schulz has accused Turkey of not keeping it promise to reform anti-terrorist laws and warned that Europe could harden its stance...
EP decision on visas ‘reflects view of Cyprus Republic’
Cyprus said on Thursday said the position expressed by European Parliament on EU visa liberalisation for Turkish nationals reflected the views of the Republic. European...
EP President Schulz to visit on Monday
EUROPEAN Parliament President Martin Schulz arrives on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of House President Yiannakis Omirou. During his stay, Schulz will...
Turkish police fire tear gas at newspaper, EU officials lament press record
Turkish police fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Saturday to disperse protesters outside the country’s biggest newspaper after authorities seized control of it in...
Cameron defends EU deal as lawmakers offer no guarantees
By Alastair Macdonald David Cameron fended off changes on Tuesday to a draft deal he has cut to help keep Britain in the EU, as...
Europe looking at Cyprus with optimism
European Parliament President Martin Schulz said on Tuesday Europe was looking with optimism at the ongoing Cyprus negotiations. “We hope that this is justified and...
Schulz confident 2016 settlement possible
European Parliament President Martin Schulz said on Thursday he was confident that a Cyprus settlement was possible in 2016. Speaking at a press conference in...