Christian Democratic Union

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked her conservative Christian Democratic Union to support the proposed extension of Greece's bailout programme in a parliament vote this week, AFP reported on Tuesday.

The eurozone finance ministers earlier in the day approved a four-month extension of the financial rescue programme for Greece after Athens issued a list of reform proposals.

By Rainer Buergin, Birgit Jennen & Brian Parkin

Germany is leaving the door open to discussing debt relief with Greece?s next government, lawmakers in Chancellor Angela Merkel?s coalition said, signaling a more flexible stance than her administration has taken publicly.

By Brian Parkin and Birgit Jennen

Greek opposition leader Alexis Tsipras won?t get German support for easing austerity, though Greece?s exit from the euro area would be costly for Germany, members of Chancellor Angela Merkel?s two main coalition parties said.

Ruling SNS party to apply for EPP status

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will apply for the role of an associate member or observer in the European People's Party (EPP), says Jadranka Joksimovic.

Joksimovic is SNS international secretary and minister in charge of EU integration in the current government.

BELGRADE - The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) will apply for the role of an associate member or observer in the European People's Party (EPP), SNS International Secretary and Minister in charge of European affairs Jadranka Joksimovic said.

BRUSSELS - Germany appreciates the importance of Serbia and it sees it as a leader in the European integration process in the Western Balkans, European Parliament (EP) rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister said in an exclusive interview for Tanjug.

Former chancellor criticizes Merkel in new book

BERLIN -- Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has made a series of derogatory remarks about Angela Merkel in his new book, due to be published soon.

He described the current chancellor as an incompetent politician who could not even eat properly with a knife and fork.

BERLIN - Konstantin Samofalov, spokesperson of the New Democratic Party (NDS), which has seats in the Serbian parliament, has taken part in a conference organised by the ASPEN institute in Berlin, where the topics were the rule of law in the Western Balkans and the EU enlargement policy.

German parliamentarians, on a two-day visit to Serbia, have told the Belgrade government they want to more action on Kosovo before Serbia can further its aspirations to join the EU

BERLIN - The Serbian government, headed by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, has Berlin's full political support, Serbia's chief EU negotiator Tanja Miscevic has said.