Peer Steinbrück

France, Germany and other European countries demanded answers on May 31 following reports the U.S. spied on its allies using Danish underwater cables, as questions mounted over whether Denmark knew about the operation.

European countries have pressed the US and Denmark over reports the two worked together to spy on top European politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Danish broadcaster DR said Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information from 2012 to 2014.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel criticised the German government's handling of Greece in a letter he wrote to Chancellor Angela Merkel last month, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Social Democrat Martin Schulz would receive the same level of support as German Chancellor Angela Merkel if voters could vote directly for the head of government, showed a survey of ARD TV carried out on Wednesday, cited by Reuters.

Schulz and Merkel have the same level of electoral support - 41%, reported BTA.

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz will leave his post.

Schulz, who is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, announced that he intends to return to German politics.

60-year old Schulz will enter German politics where he might compete with Angela Merkel for the post of German Chancellor next year, reported AFP..

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will travel to Berlin on Wednesday, his office confirmed on Tuesday.

Venizelos has scheduled meetings with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on the afternoon of his arrival and on the following day with Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos will travel to Berlin on Wednesday for two days of talks, it was announced on Friday.

According to sources, the PASOK leader will meet German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Sigmar Gabriel.