A small circle of countries might, therefore, be all that remains. Apart from creating problems for Germany, the IG Metall demand also throws down a gauntlet to the European Central Bank. It means that there are now fears that monetary policy will be tightened in the euro zone and therefore the various European stock markets fell on the news from Germany. But the bank is clearly worried that inflationary tendencies might be stimulated across the whole euro zone by this. This is the third month running when German exports have risen.
Industrialists agree that the weak euro has helped offset the high level of German wage costs.
ECJ overrules German constitution The European Court of Justice has ruled that women must be allowed to bear arms in the German army. The ruling overturns a previous ruling by a court in Hannover which confirmed the German law against this. France tops disobedience list France's decision to ignore the European Commission's instructions on importing British beef confirms France's recent tendency to ignore European laws altogether. France is now top of the list of disobedient countries, with 419 directives not applied. France is also the country which is brought before the European Court of Justice more than any other country.