Schmidt: Pension reforms threaten German economy

Germany's coalition government is about to adopt the country's first national minimum wage and is considering lowering the retirement age.

However some are warning the measures could damage the country's economy.

Christoph Schmidt, chair of the German Council of Economic Experts, an independent body which advises the government, is critical of the reforms.

He tells HARDtalk Germany might lose strength over the coming years because of the demographic changes in the country.

Watch more clips at HARDtalk's website

You can see the full interview on BBC World News at 14:30 and 20:30 GMT on Tuesday 27 May and on the BBC News Channel on Wednesday 28 May at 00:30 and 04:30 BST.