European Parliament President Martin Schulz, the centre-left’s candidate to lead the European Commission visited flood stricken areas in Croatia accompanied by the country’s Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. <br /><br />The party of European Socialists said he had altered his election campaign programme to visit Croatia.<br /><br />In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel was talking trade. Voters in Europe’s biggest economy have voiced their opposition to a proposed US -EU trade pact the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).<br /><br />Merkel met with a group of business leaders saying the deal could stimulate growth and create jobs. <br /><br />Beppo Grillo and his Five Star Movement burst onto the political scene in Italy last year and at times was seen as just a protest movement.<br /><br />This election could prove an acid test of support for his populist policies. Many see it as a two horse race with the left-leaning Democratic Party of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
