Germany’s acting chancellor Angela Merkel has said Berlin will be watching Austria’s new right-far right coalition government “more closely than usual”. Mr Kurz in return infuriated the German leader a year ago when, as foreign minister, he agreed with Austrian’s southeastern neighbours to close borders along the so-called Balkan route. Euro zone reformOn euro zone reform proposals from France, it was business as usual for Dr Merkel. The German leader said the main points of agreement were clear but additional points could be added to the exploratory paper, “otherwise we wouldn’t need coalition talks”. Lightening the mood was her response to a question pointing out that the German leader, at 63, is more than twice the age of her Austrian counterpart.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2018 18:11 UTC