Germans have to work things out

Date: 14/01/1999

The German presidency is expected to give priority over the next six months to the 'social dialogue' - a grand title which has come to be associated with inconclusive squabbles between trade unions and employers over pay and conditions.

If so, the Germans will need to be more diplomatic than the Austrians, their predecessors in the EU hot seat.

George Jacobs, president of European employer's association UNICE, is still smarting from the rebuff he received last month when he turned up at a meeting of EU finance ministers expecting a tête à tête with Austrian Economic Affairs Minister Johannes Farnleitner.

After shaking Jacob's hand and exchanging a few pleasantries, the minister reportedly dismissed him with an imperious wave of his hand, saying: “Please leave us now, we have work to do.”