NationStates Jolt Archive

Merkel signals German EU rethink (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4468560.stm)

Germany's new Chancellor, Angela Merkel, took two loud and clear messages to the European capitals she visited this week.

Hmmm, it seems pretty clear now with the first traditional round-trip of the new chancellor well underway that Merkel's idea of Europe and of Foreign Policy in general is a rather different one from Schröder's.

When people have been criticising the EU in the past on these pages, the axis of France and Germany was always the symbol of that with which they disagreed (maybe because most Europeans here are Brits...;))

But it seems like the Axis is coming apart now. What do you think that means for the future of the EU?

And while we're at it...there has been a cut in sugar subsidies (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4466388.stm) as well. About f*cking time.

And if you want further information about future German Foreign Policy, see these articles:
An End to the Franco-German Romance? (http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,386661,00.html)
Germany Is Tired of Footing the European Bill (http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,348546,00.html)
The World According to Angie (http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,384910,00.html)

tag.

(Sorry, don't have the time nor energy for formulate an opinion on this, and some of those links could be useful :))

An excellent start. Finally, they are starting to take action on liberalization of their economy and labor markets, and are cutting subsidies on products to free the market more.

I'm glad Germany is starting to take a true leadership position, since it might bring an end to the dying and failed protectionism of France that is impeding reform and accelerate the nascent economic recovery in the Eurozone. Globalization and liberalization might do more to save and improve their welfare programs (along with their budget and tax burden) than anything else.

An excellent start. Finally, they are starting to take action on liberalization of their economy and labor markets, and are cutting subsidies on products to free the market more.

I'm glad Germany is starting to take a true leadership position, since it might bring an end to the dying and failed protectionism of France that is impeding reform and accelerate the nascent economic recovery in the Eurozone. Globalization and liberalization might do more to save and improve their welfare programs (along with their budget and tax burden) than anything else.

I think that it is essential for Germany to take the lead in the EU along with a strong partnership with the UK. France needs some real reforms within to get it going. Perhaps outside influence of the other two large economies will help it.

Well, France needs all the help it can get, what with the riots and all. Germany should step up and take a leadership position in all of this, it is one of the larger nations in the EU, and one of the more powerful.

Merkel, while she may be a conservative, could be what the EU needs to get itself back on track and back into a competative world market.

An excellent start. Finally, they are starting to take action on liberalization of their economy and labor markets, and are cutting subsidies on products to free the market more.

I'm glad Germany is starting to take a true leadership position, since it might bring an end to the dying and failed protectionism of France that is impeding reform and accelerate the nascent economic recovery in the Eurozone. Globalization and liberalization might do more to save and improve their welfare programs (along with their budget and tax burden) than anything else.

I fully agree.

Merkel, while she may be a conservative, could be what the EU needs to get itself back on track and back into a competative world market.
I'm counting on it.
I didn't have a problem with the Schröder Government, but ultimately maybe I expected too much from them - they began reforms, but Schröder had too difficult a time to get them through both his own party and then conservative opposition.

I put my faith into the CDU this time 'round because I felt they could get things done that needed to be done for many years now. I was a little disappointed with the way the coalition ended up weakening everyone a little, but I guess you got to make do with the mandate the people give you.

That being said, do you reckon that Germany is powerful enough to make things happen?

That being said, do you reckon that Germany is powerful enough to make things happen?

Well, France was the other major power player and they can't do it now. France and Chirac have their own internal issues they need to deal with before they can turn to international diplomacy and relational issues.

Germany, on the other hand, is more or less stable socially and politically. Merkel can take the SDP and the CDU and have them work together. She is one of the conservtive leaders but she has to work with the SDP if she wants to get anything done. I think the Germans will probably unite behind the EU issues to focus their power into one spearpoint. If the coalition comes together, then German politics will become the driving force in the EU general council, no other nation controls enough of the seats or has enough followers to wrest control of the GC from Germany.

Germany Is Tired of Footing the European Bill (http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,348546,00.html)
Good for them.

Obviously the UK has far more in common with france than germany. I therefore judge this to be an absolute non-event.

Obviously the UK has far more in common with france than germany. I therefore judge this to be an absolute non-event.
Well, I don't really think so...as far as EU Politics is concerned, France and the UK have been at odds with each other for years. And seriously too.

I'm thinking that Germany may be the weight that could shift from French Protectionism to British Liberalism and thus end the deadlock and affect some real change.

As far as the people there are concerned, I don't really know what you mean, but I suspect it is largely irrelevant as far as the EU goes.

I fully agree.


Scary. Me too. There's a first time for everything! :)

In my opinion, generally, and I mean with exceptions, what ever France does, or thinks should be done, everyone should do the opposite.

Hurrah for Germany! :D
Hurrah for other economic stuff!

And news that France and UK were at odds? Really? When did this start? :p

And news that France and UK were at odds? Really? When did this start? :p
Meh...I'm starting to think Lacadaemon really doesn't like Germany very much - but that's an unsubstantiated suspicion.

Strange though that Germans seem to be hated much less than French...even though everything France has done in the past 60 years was also done by Germany.

One last Bump.

The EU is an emerging Super State the likes that hasn't been seen since the USSR.

But unlike the USSR which was built on the unworkable mess of Communism, the EU is built on a mutual Economic/Political/Military alliance of nations that retain their sovereign rights while also being part of a larger International Community.

That is where I see the world heading towards, a kind of Global Roman-Styled Republic which competing forces for total power that will cancel each other out because they are ALL competing for total power.

My two cents...