Three years into the euro zone's debt crisis, Germany's finance minister hinted tantalisingly last week at a potential breakthrough. Behind closed doors at a meeting in Paris of a small group of senior policymakers, Wolfgang Schaeuble indicated that Berlin could eventually agree to write off some of the money it has lent Greece, in order to make its debt sustainable. Three people present or briefed on the talks said Schaeuble had suggested there could be some kind of "conditional debt relief" for Athens if it sticks to tough economic reforms. But Schaeuble backtracked within 24 hours. The idea, aired publicly ... (full story)