German EU-weariness weighs on Merkel

"The country's political elite is still wedded to the European project even though Germany is no longer willing to pay over the odds to make European compromises possible," said Katinka Barysch, an analyst at the London-based Centre for European Reform think tank, in a research note. "The risk is that the Greek crisis brings a latent sense of frustration and disillusionment with the EU to the boil", she said. "It is hard to see how the EU could make progress on anything ... with a reluctant, grumpy and inward-looking Germany at its heart." … Merkel now needs to show leadership by pushing for sustainable solutions to eurozone problems, but it is a two-way street, Barysch said. "There were several EU countries that wanted tough conditions for Greece just as badly. They need to stop hiding behind Berlin. Others need to acknowledge that European solidarity also requires responsibility on the part of all EU member-states."