European Parliament President Martin Schulz has shielded German Chancellor Angela Merkel from French criticism, saying she couldn't be held responsible for all the bloc's economic woes because 26 other leaders are also involved in decision-making, reports Spiegel.
Martin Schulz said recent criticism of German Chancellor Angela Merkel by France's ruling Socialists was "unfair," arguing that she couldn't be blamed for all of Europe's economic problems in the euro crisis.
The German politician, a member of the opposition center-left Social Democrats, said on Monday evening after a meeting with French President François Hollande that relations between France and Germany were "stable" and hadn't been damaged by the criticism.
Schulz said Merkel "can't be made responsible for everything" and that EU decisions are made by the bloc's 27 government leaders, not just her.
A document drafted by the Socialists for a June party conference on Europe had described the German leader as "self-centered" and said her austerity policies were hurting Europe.
However, the Socialists bowed to pressure from the French government at the weekend and said they would remove the most strongly worded criticism ahead of the conference.
Read more of thsi report from Spiegel.