Is Germany still a 'good European'?

EPC Policy Dialogue

12.10.2011, Brussels

From left to right: Markus C. Kerber, Gerhard Schick, Janis Emmanouilidis, Markus Ferber, Josef Janning

Chair of an EPC Policy Dialogue on Is Germany still a 'good European'?

The experience of the sovereign debt crisis has prompted the debate about Germany’s future European orientation and its role in managing and overcoming the euro crisis. There is a widespread perception that Berlin’s approach during the last two decades has become more pragmatic, less visionary, and been driven more by national economic, financial and political interests.

At the same time, Germany’s position in the EU has been strengthened substantially as the German economy has weathered the crisis reasonably well compared to many other Member States, with Berlin being called upon to provide more decisive leadership in the course of the current crisis. But it seems that Germany is still struggling to determine and fulfil its new role in Europe with many in Germany questioning the European project in the light of the continuing demands on the German taxpayer to prop up the ailing euro. Berlin’s EU partners, on the other hand, are trying to work out how to deal with the ‘new Germany’ whose support for the European project is crucial.

These and other issues were discussed by a panel including Markus Ferber, Member of the European Parliament, Markus C. Kerber, Professor at the Technische Universität Berlin, Gerhard Schick, Member of the German Parliament, and Josef Janning, EPC Director of Studies.

For more information about the event see the EPC website here.