From the Heart of Europe | 31.05.2012

Monti warns German obstruction undermines eurozone stability

	Italy's leader Mario Monti has raised pressure on Germany to drop resistance to a set of controversial eurozone crisis fighting tools. Support for a German-style 'culture of stability' is waning, he warns.

RETAIL

German retail sales fail to match 2011 levels

	The German retail sector is experiencing a slight recovery, having posted an increase in revenues for two straight months despite a more negative outlook. But it's still far off its 2011 sales levels.

EUROPEAN UNION

Eurozone lacks political vision, says ECB head

	The president of the European Central Bank has criticized eurozone leaders for not presenting a unified vision of the shared currency bloc's future. He has called for more integration, including a banking union.

UNEMPLOYMENT

More Germans find jobs, but trend loses momentum

	Over 100,000 more Germans have been able to find jobs in May, the employment office says. But analysts warn the drop in the jobless rate has not been substantial enough - and could reverse soon.