Merkel ‘Regrets’ Austria’s Rejection of German FTT Proposal

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she “regrets” that Austria rejects Germany’s proposal for a financial transaction tax and warned that any further changes could prompt other European Union members to reject it.

“We can continue talking, but it can’t be the case that with further changes, five other countries reject it – so it’s a very difficult situation,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin on Monday after talks with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Kurz said that his government is in favor of an FTT as a tax against speculation, “as it was originally proposed,” but a proposal by German Finance ...