Germany

Hollande's presidency begins with whirlwind day in Paris

French President François Hollande, inaugurated today, spoke about the need for unity and reiterated promises to invest in education.
Hollande's plane struck by lightning en route to Germany to meet Merkel (+video)

A quick trip to Germany is not unusual for a new French president. But François Hollande will bring a radically changed agenda when he meets Chancellor Merkel today.
Germany frets, markets falter over French and Greek election results

In Germany, the results of yesterday's elections are seen as a refusal to follow the austerity plan hammered out by European leaders in long, painful negotiations.
Germany's solar woes dim the promise of green jobs

Global competition and cuts to government subsidies have plunged Germany's solar-energy industry into disarray. As another manufacturer goes bankrupt, green job growth is in jeopardy.
Germany tries to convince Swiss banks to play by its rules

Germany and Switzerland signed a treaty today in which Switzerland agreed to impose taxes on Germans' secret accounts in Swiss banks, but the deal still falls short of the transparency Germany wants.
German powerhouse leaves working mothers behind

Germany's traditional family policies have forced German women to choose between a career and motherhood. The consequences could slow its economic momentum.
Workers say zealous eurozone reformers are eroding their sacred rights

Union powers and workers' protections have been severely curtailed to make Europe's struggling economies more competitive. Some say the cuts have gone further than necessary.
EU leaders agree on need for more money - just not how much

Some European leaders want to give the permanent bailout fund as much money as possible, but others say that will do nothing to deter a repeat of the current debt crisis.
French gunman the latest of Europe's troubling 'lone wolves'

President Sarkozy said the Toulouse gunman Mohamed Merah acted on his own, highlighting Europe's struggle to curb the radicalization of Muslim youths.
East Germans unite: Joachim Gauck elected president

Both Germany's new President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel hail from the former communist East Germany, marking a turning point in the country's reintegration efforts.
Global News Blog
A secret hero in Germany

Someone has been leaving envelopes of $13,000 in various locations like a church and soup kitchen in the town of Braunschweig, Germany.
Europe to Germany: your eurocrisis 'answers' don't work for us

As prosperous Germany reshapes Europe's fiscal operating system to fit the German doctrine of austerity, questions and warnings are on the rise.
Rebellious unions upend German order

Germany has a tradition of good relations between unions and employers, but as support erodes for well-established groups, workers are joining smaller unions willing to buck the consensus.
In powerhouse Germany, salaries for women lag behind

According to an OECD report published this week, women working full-time in Germany make 21.6 percent less than men and hold substantially fewer top business positions.
EU pushes bigger bailout fund and Germany pushes back

Many European leaders and financial institutions are pushing for a larger permanent EU bailout fund, saying it would send an important signal. Germany, its main funder, says such talk is premature.
EU to Ireland: your referendum won't stop EU financial treaty

Germany is angry that Ireland plans to hold a referendum on a treaty that will impose strict budget controls on EU members. Ireland has twice rejected EU treaties — but this time, it alone cannot scupper the deal.
German President Wulff resigns amid scandal, diverting Merkel's attention (+video)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel canceled a trip to Italy in order to deal with the fallout of President Christian Wulff's resignation, who was one of her political allies.
As Sarkozy seeks new term, French are wary of 'Merkozy' (+video)

An embattled French President Nicolas Sarkozy is touting his strong ties with powerful German chancellor Angela Merkel as he prepares to announce his bid for a second term today.
Global News Blog
In Frankfurt, Europe's banking capital, Occupy soldiers on

Even amid last week's record low temperatures in Europe, a hardy group of protesters kept Frankfurt's Occupy encampment going between towering bank buildings.  
More than 30,000 Germans turn out against anti-piracy treaty ACTA

ACTA, a controversial international anti-piracy agreement that has riled up Europe, brought out huge crowds in Germany and split top government officials.
The Merkel-Sarkozy 'odd couple' becomes a campaign duo

German Chancellor Merkel is campaigning for French President Nicolas Sarkozy, overcoming a history of differences across the Rhine, including two world wars.
Will the EU really turn to growth?

It is considered progress that European Union leaders are discussing growth after two years of focusing almost exclusively on austerity, but actual growth strategies are still in short supply.
Europe pact: Members must balance budgets or suffer sanctions

European leaders signed a fiscal pact that would enforce balanced budget among member states. Leaders also pledged to promote growth. Members must still ratify the pact.
German magazine caves in battle to reprint Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'

A German magazine's bid to reprint excerpts of 'Mein Kampf' to promote a discussion of the past was blocked by a long-standing German ban on reprinting or selling the text.
IMF: $650 billion isn't enough for the European bailout fund

European finance ministers agreed to move up the launch of a permanent bailout fund by a year, but the fund is still too small, according to the IMF.