Council of the European Union - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Germany finally has a government ready to lead Europe

Guy Verhofstadt — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:05:46 +0000

The ‘Merkel brake’ that held up progress on the rule of law is now finally off.

Guy Verhofstadt is a member of the European Parliament. He is the former leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and a former prime minister of Belgium.

Europe is born from crisis situations, or so the cliché goes. But over the last decade, this has proven untrue. As the world convulsed, time and again, current European Union institutions and policies were left unable to cope, and European politics simply carried on as before. It seemed our leaders were unable, or unwilling, to lead Europe.

Now, that might all change. The new German coalition could be the final missing piece needed to turn the tide across the Continent.

In Emmanuel Macron, France already has an unusually “European” president, with an all-important election ahead of him and the presidency of the Council of the European Union in his hands from January on.

In Mario Draghi, Italy has a highly capable prime minister who unabashedly attaches his political survival to the handling of the COVID-19 crisis and the EU recovery funds dedicated to tackle its economic impact.

In most European capitals, the debate has become more constructive, while the union’s spoiler governments — Poland and Hungary — have finally gone so far as to isolate themselves.

And in Germany, there is now a government eager to lead Europe from the front — and how!

The German coalition deal, Koalitionsvertrag, at times reads not like a weak compromise but more a pre-election party manifesto — and of a party I would vote for.

The deal clearly gets the basics right: A “self-image of a European Germany” that is “embedded in the historical peace and freedom project that is the European Union.” Its goal, “a sovereign EU as a stronger actor in a world shaped by uncertainty and competing political systems.” Its role and responsibilities as a large member country, to go beyond the purely national, “for the EU as a whole.”

This is quite a break from the recent past, where the reasoning was that “what is good for Germany is good for Europe,” and not much more.

These new words matter, as is clear from the coalition’s stance on rule of law: “We want to effectively buttress the values” as outlined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union, it says. It calls on the Commission to use the existing rule of law mechanism “more timely and consistently,” and on the Council to “follow through and further develop” the whole range of rule of law instruments — up to the use of Article 7, which could suspend the voting rights of governments that violate EU values.

In short, the “Merkel brake” — which always slowed down and held up any EU action against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán or Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński’s assaults on their country’s democratic institutions — is now off.

Not everything is music to my ears, however. Germany may be finally committed to better investment, building start-ups and taking the lead in the green transition, but to already reject a continuation of the Commission’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is a mistake. The current crisis will not be over any time soon, and financing the recovery program through eurobonds was exactly the paradigm shift Europe needed.

The way we finance the EU budget, through national contributions, is a recipe for disaster. By definition, it leads to acrimonious fights between governments and automatically leads to funds primarily flowing back to national projects. Economically, as well as politically, EU finances are illogical and the opposite of “European.” An extension of the logic and ambition of the rest of the coalition agreement would have instead led to a revisited fund, certainly not a discontinuation.

More importantly, however, the new German government is now eager to have that wider debate.

It strongly underlines the need for the Conference on the Future of Europe for further reform, and it supports the proposed treaty changes that could result from its conclusions. The stated intention that “the Conference should culminate into a constitutional convention and further development of a federal European state” goes further than any other government so far.

This new Germany wants to revalue the community method but will move ahead with core groups of countries when necessary. It will fight for a stronger Parliament with the right of initiative de facto, if not de jure. It is committed to a uniform European electoral law with partly transnational lists and a binding system of Spitzenkandidaten — top candidates.

The balance in this agreement is laudable and promising. In today’s world, a stronger Europe is necessary, and a more democratic Europe is the necessary result. And with Olaf Scholz as chancellor, it will be wonderfully interesting to see a new generation of political stars finally align.

The problems of the real world are not any less for it. But just maybe, shortly, finally, Europe’s greatest weakness will no longer be the politicians leading it.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated Jarosław Kaczyński’s title. He is Poland’s deputy prime minister.

Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-finally-has-a-government-ready-to-lead-europe/

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A senior Merkel ally says China is an ‘ever more powerful snake’ that Germany will take the fight to

Adam Payne — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 05:02:38 +0000

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news conference after coalition meetings over stimulus measures to reboot post-coronavirus economy, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany June 3, 2020.

John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERS

Germany will take the fight to China as an EU leader, a senior ally of Angela Merkel has said.
Germany took on the European Council’s rotating presidency last month.
Michael Roth, a senior foreign minister in Merkel’s government, said Berlin would prioritize standing up to Beijing, writing: ‘One thing is clear: We urgently need more European action in our dealings with China.’
Roth said China was an ‘apparently ever more powerful snake’ that must be met head-on by the EU.
There is growing tension between China and the West over its treatment of Uighurs and Hong Kong.
Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

A senior member of Angela Merkel’s government has warned China that a European Union fronted by Germany will go toe-to-toe with Beijing, stating “there will be no ‘business as usual’ as far as the EU is concerned.”

Germany took on the European Council’s rotating presidency last month and has warned Beijing that it will not be afraid to “lock horns” over issues like its treatment of Hong Kong and Uighurs in the Chinese province of Xinjiang.

Writing in Spiegel on Sunday, Michael Roth, the state secretary for Europe in Germany’s foreign affairs ministry, described China as an “ever more powerful snake” that must be met head-on by a more confident EU.

“We must not be afraid to lock horns when it comes to difficult issues such as human rights, security, and technology. This, too, is about our own sovereignty at the end of the day,” Roth wrote.

“China will certainly not build one single coal-fired power station less if we remain silent when we have differences of opinion.”

Roth issued the warning amid growing tension between Beijing and governments in the West.

The senior German minister said that while the EU and China are “interconnected” economies and must work together to be successful, China is a “systemic rival” to Europe that is “increasingly going on the offensive.”

“The leadership of the authoritarian, one-party state passes up no opportunity to drive a wedge between the EU member states and weaken them. We are locked in a tough competition of values stemming from very different concepts of society,” he said.

Roth said Germany’s priority would be to encourage the EU to “act more confidently” towards China than it has done before.

“We will not bring our influence to bear in Beijing if we are not united and if we do not stand up for our values and interests with the combined strength of the EU.”

He said: “What can the EU do to ensure it does not find itself paralyzed like the proverbial rabbit when faced with an apparently ever more powerful snake?”

“One thing is clear: We urgently need more European action in our dealings with China.

“A consistent ‘Team Europe policy’ is long overdue.

“This is a priority of Germany’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, during which we bear particular responsibility. The EU must act more confidently vis-à-vis China and speak with one voice.”

Getty

Roth warned that Beijing’s imposition of a draconian new security law on Hong Kong and its suppression of Uighurs in the Chinese province of Xinjiang showed “how uncompromisingly it is prepared to assert its claim to power.”

“China is therefore not afraid to violate central principles of the rules-based international order before the eyes of the world,” he said.

Germany on Friday followed the UK, Australia, and Canada by suspending its extradition agreement with Hong Kong.

Roth added that the EU must aim to become less economically dependent on China.

The bloc should increase efforts to look to firms in Europe for technology like 5g, he said, describing the row over whether Chinese firm Huawei should be allowed to develop 5g in Western countries as a “litmus test” for the EU.

“Nothing less than the security of our citizens is at stake here,” he said.

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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/senior-merkel-ally-michael-roth-says-germany-and-the-eu-must-get-tougher-with-china-2020-8

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German Foreign Minister to Land in Israel, Expected to Warn Netanyahu Against Annexation

Noa Landau — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 08:10:26 +0000

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin, June 2, 2020 Credit: FABRIZIO BENSCH/ REUTERS

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday will land in Israel ahead of his expected meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi.

The visit’s official capacity is for Maas to acquaint himself with Ashkenazi. Unofficially, Maas intends to caution Israel against its stated intentions to begin annexing parts of the West Bank on July 1.

Maas is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Ashkenazi. He will later also confer with Palestinian leadership over video conference after Israel cited its coronavirus quarantine orders to prevent Maas from visiting the West Bank. He will then travel to Jordan in the evening for additional talks.

This is Maas’ first trip outside of Europe since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

According to sources within the Foreign Ministry, Israel’s intent to annex West Bank settlements is a grave concern for Germany, which seeks to mediate between Israelis and Palestinians and prevent a violent escalation in the region.

Germany is a key ally of Israel in international organizations but is also a staunch defender of international law institutions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declarations that annexation will be promoted on July 1, in less than one month, have put Berlin in a major quandary. On July 1, Germany will be taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and will be assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council. These two roles will require the Germans to choose between their allegiance to international law and UN resolutions on the one hand and their historical commitment to Israel on the other.

In late May, Germany and the Palestinian Authority released a joint statement expressing “grave concern” over Israel’s declared intention to begin annexing parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

Source: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-german-foreign-minister-lands-in-israel-expected-to-warn-netanyahu-against-annexation-1.8910253

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Romania at AIPAC: We will move our embassy to Jerusalem

Jerusalem Post staff — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 11:15:32 +0000

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă says her government are moving their embassy to Jerusalem.. (photo credit: screenshot)

Romania has announced on Sunday that it will be moving its embassy to Jerusalem.

Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă made the announcement during her speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, which began on Sunday in Washington, DC.

“I, as prime minister of Romania, and the government I lead, will move our embassy to Jerusalem,” Dăncilă said. “Our support of the State of Israel and the Jewish community is constant. I am determined to contribute to closer relations between Israel and the entire European Union, particularly now, when Romania is holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union.”

She promised that Romania would “remain the same loyal friend and the strongest European voice in support of the Jewish people and the State of Israel,” concluding with the words, “shalom chaveirim (Peace friends), see you in Jerusalem.”

Prior to her announcement, Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández said his country would “immediately” open its diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. Hernández’s comments at AIPAC would make Honduras the latest in a line to open missions in the capital.

“Honduras will immediately open our official diplomatic mission and this will extend our embassy to the capital of Israel, Jerusalem,” Hernández told the crowd.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Romania-announces-it-will-move-its-embassy-to-Jerusalem-584449

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Want to Understand What Is Wrong With Europe? Look at Italy

Helen Thompson — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 03:30:09 +0000

Luigi Di Maio, of the Five Star Movement, celebrating victory with his supporters in Pomigliano D’Arco, Italy, on Tuesday. CreditCiro Fusco/European Pressphoto Agency

CAMBRIDGE, England — Italy’s election this week has destroyed any remaining hope that the center in European politics can prevail.

On the same day that members of the Social Democratic Party in Germany gave reluctant blessing to another “grand coalition” in Berlin, Italians went to the polls and delivered more than half their votes to anti-establishment parties. The center-right coalition that emerged when Silvio Berlusconi formed Forza Italia is now led by the League, a far-right party that threatens thousands of migrants with deportation. And as in nearly every recent European election, the principal center-left party lost a large number of voters. Given these results, the only possible government that can emerge in Rome will contain at least one of the two insurgent populist parties: either the League or the Five Star Movement, the single largest party in Parliament.

Italy’s situation is particular, but not unique. Across the Continent, the old politics has shattered: The once-dominant parties of the center right and center left have been unable over the past two decades to secure support for policies generated within the context of the European Union and the euro single currency.

Since the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1992, establishing the European Union and laying the groundwork for the creation of the euro, policy on a range of issues from budgets to asylum have been taken beyond the control of democratically elected national governments. An increasing number have become subject to majority-voting within the Council of the European Union, as with immigration. Sometimes, policy is just dictated by Germany’s sheer exercise of power, as in the case of the refugee and migrant crisis.

At the same time, participation in the eurozone has required governments to forsake policy tools that their predecessors had used during times of economic crisis. Since 2010, eurozone membership can also demand acquiescence to the European Central Bank, which can essentially ask for and veto national economic legislation.

The result? Much of Europe has become nearly ungovernable. As voters across the Continent see their ability to influence policy taken away, they have lashed out, neutering the traditional center and giving rise to disruptive populists. Italy’s election, in other words, says much about everything that’s wrong with the European Union.

The center left has been hit especially hard. Germany’s Social Democrats, France’s Socialists and most recently, Italy’s Democratic Party have lost millions of voters. Part of this is driven by a rejection of the immigration and refugee policies over which centrist governments have presided. In eurozone countries, voters have had extra reason to lose faith: Despite their rhetorical commitments to social welfare and redistribution, these parties have overseen cuts in welfare spending, loosened labor laws and reformed pensions. Over the past two decades, center-left parties have justified the elevation of a technocratic European ideal over the claims of both democracy and the actual, daily economic experience of millions of Europeans.

Italy is the epicenter of the problems facing establishment European politicians for both recent and more historical reasons. The external immigration pressures that have roiled politics are especially acute in Italy, which is the first point of entry for migrants and refugees coming from North Africa. Consequently, the League surged from 4 percent of the vote in 2013 to about 18 percent this week, thanks in large part to the party’s campaign slogan: “Italians First.”

Above all, though, have been Italy’s particular tribulations with the euro, which have struck at the heart of the country’s democracy. In the fall of 2011, the European Central Bank wrote to Mr. Berlusconi, then the prime minister, saying that its purchase of Italian bonds was conditional on legislative reforms. When Mr. Berlusconi refused to cut pensions, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany encouraged the Italian president at the time, Giorgio Napolitano, to end Mr. Berlusconi’s premiership. Germany essentially strong-armed the president into appointing a cabinet of technocrats led by Mario Monti, a former European commissioner. Since then, Italy has not had an elected politician as minister of economy and finances. The role has been taken by Mr. Monti himself, a former central banker and former official at the International Monetary Fund.

In the 2013 election — the first after Mr. Monti was installed as prime minister at Germany’s insistence — the Five Star Movement, which presents the entire Italian political class as undemocratic and corrupt, took the single largest share of the vote. It had only formed four years earlier.

Italy’s eurozone trials are nothing new. Before Italy had even joined the common currency area in 1999, its attempts to qualify for membership — by introducing the required “fiscal discipline” — had resulted in nearly a decade of rising unemployment. Moreover, no Italian government was ever in a position to exercise a meaningful choice about whether it was wise to join the eurozone. Unless Italy ended its membership in the European Union, it was politically bound to take on the currency by treaty obligations over which it had no consequential say.

Now Italian voters have responded by putting into office politicians who do not accept the legitimacy of European Union-wide rules.

Of course, this voter rebellion is in part mirrored by the election that brought the Syriza party to power in Greece in 2015. The eurozone and the European Union survived that experience. But the fate of Italy matters much more for the European project than that of Greece. Syriza gambled on a threat of Greek secession when Greece already faced the risk of expulsion. An eventual crisis over an Italian exit would be an entirely different proposition.

In 1997, while making the case that Italy should join the eurozone, the prime minister at the time, Romano Prodi, said it was “impossible to think of Europe cut off from its great Latin culture.” He had a point — the country is an integral part of Europe. So when the next government in Rome, deliberately or not, pushes Italy ever closer to a decision about leaving the eurozone, in all likelihood it will take the European Union to its own precipice.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/opinion/italy-europe-election.html

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