Angela Merkel

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.

Rama will hold talks with German Chancellor Merkel in Berlin, the speaker of the German parliament and the head of the Christian Democratic Union’s parliamentary group.

Rama is also expected to meet the Deputy Chancellor and Economy Minister, Sigmar Garbiel.

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.

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.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told the Bundestag (Parliament) that Russia would suffer "massive damage, both politically and economically" through the West's sanctions.

The political part of EU's Association Agreement in Ukraine will probably be signed next week.

After Wednesday's talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that, "if there are no technical obstacles", signing of some documents regarding the agreement should take place at the upcoming meeting of the European Council, which is next week.