Berlin: "Can we have some more?"

Berlin's Mayor, Klaus Wowereit (SPD), has been part of a court process in the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe over the last few days in an effort to receive a special emergency grant from the federal government. The problem: Berlin's 60 billion Euro debt that shows no sign of decreasing.

Wowereit has attempted to show that despite conscious efforts at saving, Berlin is struggling to become the 'financial centre of Germany'. Representatives from other states, such as the Ministerpräsident of Saxony Georg Milbradt (CDU), have been critical in their appraisal of Berlin's saving efforts however. An opinion supported by many Berliners - who are constantly confronted with new elaborate street beautification schemes taking place across the capital.

Fear exists amongst the more prosperous states that they may be further required to assist Berlin financially - something they have already been required to do for many years following the reunification of Germany in 1990. al