Chancellor Merkel opposes to euro exit of Greece

Angela Merkel said Germany would do everything it could to keep the eurozone together. She also calmed fears of further bailouts for eurozone countries, saying important lessons had been learned. Greece recently won approval for a second bailout of 130bn euros ($173bn; £110bn) intended to help keep it afloat until 2014.

Germany is having to pay more than any other country for the package - angering many German citizens and politicians. Despite the measures, some analysts fear Greece might need even more help.

Asked how she saw the future for Greece, Mrs Merkel told the BBC's Newsnight programme that Athens had repeatedly said it wanted to remain within the eurozone.

“We have taken the decision to be in a currency union. This is not only a monetary decision, it is a political one. It would be catastrophic if we were to say to one of those who have decided to be with us: 'We no longer want you'." She said the eurozone would be "incredibly weakened" by a Greek exit.

She added: "It would be a huge political mistake to allow Greece to leave. That is why we will be clear with Greece, we will say: 'If you want to be part of a common currency you have to do your homework but at the same time we will always support you.'"

Asked to respond to those in Europe who feared further bailouts she said: "That is not how it is going to happen because there has been a rethink going on in Europe for some time.

"Some countries accepted the rescue package but they don't particularly relish it. They must follow conditions set out by the IMF, the ECB and the European Commission. What democratic government wants to be in that situation for the duration?

"Over the past two years in Europe, particularly in the eurozone, we have learnt a lot. We must reflect time and again, why are we together in Europe? Why are we a community that displays solidarity and bears responsibility for the others?". Mrs Merkel said Europe - and particularly the eurozone area - had "slithered into crisis" as a consequence of a global financial downturn.

She said she believed that UK Prime Minister David Cameron "was right" to have embarked on an austerity drive. "It is something that each country in Europe can do because we will all learn that no country can live beyond its means," she said.

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GERMANY GROWN 3% IN 2011 AND REDUCED ITS DEFICIT TO 1%

German Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grown 3% during 2011, and its public deficit was only 1% of GDP, despite of debt crisis and world’s economic weakness.


Statistical office (Destatis) remembered today that german economy grown 3.7% in 2010, and that the GDP was reduced 5.1% in 2009.

Descent of that 1% will allow Germany to observe for first time in three years the limit of 3% that establishes euro’s stability agreement. Germany break that agreement in 2010 (4.3%) and 2009 (3.2%).

The office said that thanks to the good national situation, Germany got the last year to reduce its debt.

Last year, German state, federate state and town’s red numbers were 26,700 million euros, but two years ago they were 105,860 million euros.

German economic institutes say that probably the weakness of the crisis, and debt crisis in euro area will affect Germany. That effect will do that Germany only grows 0.5% in 2012.


Erik Rios Salazar

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

FOURTH DAY

Today was sight-seeing day in Germany. To start the day, we started by waking up, and having breakfast with our families like everyday. Then, we went to the bus station to take a bus to go to different places in the region.

First, we went to Esslingen by bus. There, we visited Esslingen castle, and from there we walked to the centre for a short guided tour. We visited the Christmas and Medieval Market. When we were there, we got something to eat in the Market. Everything was delicious!

The second stop of the journey was in Sindelfingen. In this town, we visited the place where the Mercedes cars are produced. It was incredible! The factory was enormous (the biggest in Europe, and probably in the world), and it was really incredible to see the machines and workers working so fast. A recommended visit!

To finish our visit in the region, we went to Metzingen, a famous place for its factory outlets, to do some shopping. It was really amazing!

To finish the day, we returned to Nürtingen, and then we went to our partner's home. We were very tired.

ERIK RIOS SALAZAR

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

THIRD DAY

Today was the day. We started our day as everyday in Germany. We woke up early in the morning, and we had breakfast before we went to school. When we arrived to the school, we were very nervous, because it was the day of our presentations.

But first, we do some different things. We were divided into different groups, but in each group there was a minimum of one person from each country. Then, they told us that we had to create a new product, and all the things that people usually do when they create a new product. For example description of the product, name of the company, logo, designs, advertising, price... So, we spent half of the morning doing that job in different groups. It was strange, we were very nervous. We knew that the other presentation was waiting for us.

At 11:15 a.m. we started to present the slideshows we prepared in our countries. We were the last ones, after the people from Norway and Northern Ireland. The presentations of the other schools were very well designed. We were very nervous, but that sensation dissapeared when the presentation started. We felt better then.

After the presentations we went to have lunch at the school’s Cafeteria, and during the afternoon we spent the time finishing our product design project, and then making a presentation about them. It was really entertaining to see all the products that people can imagine!

When we finished, we started to prepare the ‘Comenius Party’. The party started at 18:30, and it finished at 23:00 p.m, It was time to go home, and relax for the next day.

ERIK RIOS SALAZAR

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

Second day: Albert Schäffle Schule

This was our first day at school. We arrived around 8 o'clock in the morning and we had the chance of meet all the students there. Northern irish, norwegian, german and basque students met all together at rooms 126/127.

At first, we met our pre-desginated partner to make an introduction about the other in front of the whole group.

After that, we divided the big group into small ones and played some games through the school before going to the city.

German students prepared for us a game. It consisted on some German students, distributed through the city centre, would ask us some questions and the groups had to try answering them correctly. The group that could answer all the questions would be the winner. We played it after the lunch break.

We finished the day having dinner all together in a local restaurant.

Xabi

GOEM: Go on and employ me!

First day: Arrival to Germany

Sunday morning, at 9 o'clock, we met at the bus station in San Sebastian. Our bus was leaving the city at this time. Our flight was taking off at 12:40 pm.
We arrived Stuttgart around 2 o'clock. Our host families were waiting for us at the terminal. They brought us to their hometowns and we spent the whole afternoon with them visiting each one's city, or watching films at home, etc.
We knew that irish students would arrive later in the afternoon. On the other hand, norwegians were arriving at night, but we did not meet them until next day. This was going to be our first day at the german school.

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