At E.U. Meeting, a Hobbled Merkel and a Stalled Agenda
- 6 years ago
At E.U. Meeting, a Hobbled Merkel and a Stalled Agenda
Only 40 percent of Germans say they should take more responsibility for international affairs, the poll showed,
and nearly 60 percent say the European Union is "not on the right track." While the German elite talks of embracing Mr. Macron’s ideas, only 12 percent of Germans regard the French-German partnership as crucial to the European Union, and 54 percent oppose Mr. Macron’s proposal for a eurozone finance minister.
The problems are huge, but Germans are not sure we’re up to it." Even more, Mr. Techau said, "German
and French ideas on European governance are very far from each other." With Germany’s caretaker government unable to make new policy, Mr. Macron and the commission cannot get a considered response, blocking progress.
But Mr. Macron noted, a touch wistfully, that "Germany, which has constraints
that go with its political system, just had its elections and is in the process of forming a government." He added, "We need a strong and stable German government to move forward." He added that Ms. Merkel was busy building a coalition, "but we can still talk to one another, and we have the aim of converging in March" their positions on eurozone reforms, so that the bloc could agree on a "road map" in June.
The lesson of recent European elections — in Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria
and Central Europe — is one of increased nationalism, populism and skepticism about "more Europe." Mr. Macron’s election, which depended on the collapse of the two main parties from infighting and scandal, seems more like an outlier than the herald of a new European commitment.
Germany said that But the last couple of months have shown that Europe may be better grounded economically, but not politically.
The paralysis in Berlin, however, with a new government not expected until March and Ms. Merkel weakened, has delayed what was meant to be the central task of the bloc — figuring out how to reform itself institutionally to ensure
that the euro is weatherproof and sustainable, to avoid new shocks from member states like Greece, Spain and Italy.
German mistrust of Mr. Trump is high, with 88 percent believing Germany’s security is best protected in the context of Europe,
but only 32 percent want to spend any more money on defense.
Only 40 percent of Germans say they should take more responsibility for international affairs, the poll showed,
and nearly 60 percent say the European Union is "not on the right track." While the German elite talks of embracing Mr. Macron’s ideas, only 12 percent of Germans regard the French-German partnership as crucial to the European Union, and 54 percent oppose Mr. Macron’s proposal for a eurozone finance minister.
The problems are huge, but Germans are not sure we’re up to it." Even more, Mr. Techau said, "German
and French ideas on European governance are very far from each other." With Germany’s caretaker government unable to make new policy, Mr. Macron and the commission cannot get a considered response, blocking progress.
But Mr. Macron noted, a touch wistfully, that "Germany, which has constraints
that go with its political system, just had its elections and is in the process of forming a government." He added, "We need a strong and stable German government to move forward." He added that Ms. Merkel was busy building a coalition, "but we can still talk to one another, and we have the aim of converging in March" their positions on eurozone reforms, so that the bloc could agree on a "road map" in June.
The lesson of recent European elections — in Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria
and Central Europe — is one of increased nationalism, populism and skepticism about "more Europe." Mr. Macron’s election, which depended on the collapse of the two main parties from infighting and scandal, seems more like an outlier than the herald of a new European commitment.
Germany said that But the last couple of months have shown that Europe may be better grounded economically, but not politically.
The paralysis in Berlin, however, with a new government not expected until March and Ms. Merkel weakened, has delayed what was meant to be the central task of the bloc — figuring out how to reform itself institutionally to ensure
that the euro is weatherproof and sustainable, to avoid new shocks from member states like Greece, Spain and Italy.
German mistrust of Mr. Trump is high, with 88 percent believing Germany’s security is best protected in the context of Europe,
but only 32 percent want to spend any more money on defense.