German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s meeting yesterday with Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel and Edmund Stoiber of the CDU’s sister party, the Christian Social Union, on the burning issue of Germany’s record unemployment, has many political implications.

To be sure, Schroeder is under pressure after his coalition’s poor showing in state elections. The Social Democratic leader is drawing fire over the meager outcome of his reforms, and he will need the support of the Christian Democrats if he is to push a new string of reforms through Parliament. Nevertheless, the economic crisis talks with the opposition party — especially given their fundamental policy differences — make for a favorable comparison with what happens in Greece. It is also an acknowledgment that when unemployment hovers at 12.6 percent and 5.2 million people are without a job, the country cannot afford to invest all its hopes in the governing party.

Any comparison between contemporary Greek and German political culture invites disappointment. Greece suffers from high unemployment and mammoth public deficits, plus a tired private economic sector, a costly health system, a problematic education system, and provocative neighbors. Yet all this has failed to prompt a similar meeting. Despite the many thorny issues, there is no direct communication between government ministers and their shadow counterparts in the opposition. All we see is party officials trading barbs and accusations. It is as if the country’s politicians are less interested in reducing unemployment or improving education than in convincing the citizen — or rather, the viewing public — that the ruling officials are better than their predecessors or vice versa.

This cannot go on. These problems must be tackled urgently and, most importantly, their solution requires a consensus between the mainstream political forces. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has made an overture to his political foes which obliges Socialist leader George Papandreou to respond with constructive proposals. The tragicomic exchange of denouncements damages the national interest and must cease. If we are so proud of our European identity we should perhaps get some lessons from a nation that has for years been the EU’s engine.