Angela Merkel

 'Anyone who wants to stay in the eurozone must follow the rules,' German finance minister says German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble pictured at Zappeio Hall.

By Xenia Kounalaki

Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Athens on Friday afternoon, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday while also expressing the German leader’s “admiration” for Greek efforts.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to make a fresh visit to Greece on April 11, Kathimerini understands.

The German leader's visit follows the approval by eurozone officials on Tuesday of 8.3 billion euros in rescue loans to Greece.

Germany's cabinet has approved a bill setting a minimum wage in the country.

A fixed national threshold of EUR 8.50 per hour is due to be fully in force from 2017, with partial introduction as early as January 1, 2015, DPA news agency has reported.

Bulgarians in Germany who are unable to find a job amount to 10 000, according to data revealing migration trends of EU citizens.

The share of unemployed Europeans in the country has gone up 5.3% over the past year, German website Local.de has reported.

Germany "to block Montenegro's membership in NATO"

PODGORICA -- Germany will block the accession of Montenegro to NATO at the summit in Wales, writes the Montenegrin daily Dan, quoting statements from the German government.

The police has banned public gatherings in central Athens from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the European Union’s finance ministers will be in the Greek capital for an informal Eurogroup and then an ECOFIN meeting.

Germany is preparing to restrict the period in which immigrants are allowed to stay in the country without a proper job.

A three-month deadline could be imposed upon a recommendation by a German government committee, Dnevnik.bg has reported.

Germany could be the EU member state to suffer the most from sanctions imposed on Russia.

Data in an article posted on German newspaper Die Welt's website suggests that economic measures against Russia would be dangerous not only for Germany's energy security, but also for its car industry and its retail.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to pay an official visit to Greece before Easter (April 20), sources have told Kathimerini.

A date for the trip has not yet been set but Merkel is expected to show her support for Greece’s adjustment efforts in the wake of its next bailout tranche being approved at an informal Eurogroup in Athens on April 1.