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    Visit to the Council of American Ambassadors Headquarters.

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  • OP/ED

    The world goes on as usual – unpredictably

    Palestine is decisive for peace in Middle East!

    Azerbaijan dismisses claims of involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

    Elite Purges: Internal Conflict or External Design?

    Trump’s Threat of U.S. Intervention in Iran Exposes Roots of Critics’ Fears

    Crisis-Born, Purpose-Seeking: Can the EPC Define Europe’s Strategic Future?

    Serbia’s Request to the ICJ Turned Resolution 1244 into a Closed Chapter and Kosovo’s Independence into an Internationally Recognized Reality

    Unpredictable world

    Promoting Arab Culture and Language in the Framework of Cultural Diversity and Dialogue.

  • Interview

    “Diplomacy, Not War”: Palestinian Ambassador to Albania Calls for Justice, Peace, and Global Action for Gaza

    Exclusive: “Even After Tito – Tito”/ Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić on Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy’s Future in the Balkans

    The Conclusion of the Diplomatic Mission / Ambassador Dancho Markovski: Strengthening Albania-North Macedonia Relations for a Shared European Future

    A Century of Diplomatic Relations Between Albania and Russia: Exclusive Interview with the Russian Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Alexey Zaytsev

    Exclusive/ The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta: “The will of the citizens will triumph in Albania, as it did in North Macedonia”

    Exclusive/ The Russian Ambassador to Albania Mr. Mikhail Afanasiev: Russia only aims to end that war started by the West in Ukraine

    Exclusive/ Skopje’s top diplomat to Tirana, Dancho Markovski: OSCE Chairmanship a Project of National Importance for North Macedonia

    Exclusive interview of Croatian Ambassador Zlatko Kramaric: ‘There is progress in Croatian-Albanian relations, but it is still not enough’  

    The first anniversary of the appointment as Archbishop at the head of the Catholic Church/ Mons. Arjan Dodaj: Only God can be the author of our walk!

  • Realpolitik

    The Troika that  defies the West!

    Alaska, a bell toll for Europe! No trade partners but adversaries! Palestina and the two states solution! When Pristina drowns in a spoonful of water!

    Geopolitical equation with several unknowns!

    Summit G 6+1! The historic Summit and Trump show! Zelensky loses 0:2! Winners and losers of the 12 day war!

    Chancellor Merz passed “the exam”! Political stupidity! 5 per cent or study Russian! The Firing East!      

    A top phone call as disappointment! Exit from Brexit! Germany at the helm! End this political shame up!

    That’s it! The quartet of hope! Shame on Kosovo! The Summit of a Community without Identity!

    Only praises and prolises for Meloni! Facts versus untruths! Immediate ceasefire and genuine peace, no deal for new occupation! Back after 60 years !

    US nuclear tariff bomb!! Europa fires back! NATO ok, but with or without Article 5? Kallas urges reforms!

  • Current Events

    Building a Digital Future: President Tokayev’s Roadmap for Kazakhstan

    Ambassador of Egypt Recognizes CAA’s Constructive Role in Middle East Affairs

    “Council of Albanian Ambassadors condemns Gaza operation, calls for two-state solution”

    Alaska, a bell toll for Europe! No trade partners but adversaries! Palestina and the two states solution! When Pristina drowns in a spoonful of water!

    The Americans In, the Russians Down, and the Iranians Out: The Regional Impact of the Armenia- Azerbaijan Peace Agreement

    How Belgrade Keeps the Serb Community in Kosovo Under Political Control

    President Aliyev gives an interview to Azerbaijani media: US-Azerbaijan open new chapter of strategic partnership 

    International recognition of Palestine: Political marketing or genuine change?

    Visit to the Council of American Ambassadors Headquarters.

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    Ambassador of Egypt Recognizes CAA’s Constructive Role in Middle East Affairs

    “Council of Albanian Ambassadors condemns Gaza operation, calls for two-state solution”

    Zelensky in Brussels: A ceasefire and clear security guarantees are needed for Ukraine

    Visit to the Council of American Ambassadors Headquarters.

    China looks forward to Europe viewing bilateral ties in a comprehensive, dialectical, and developing manner: Chinese FM spokesperson

    The NATO Summit in 2027 will be held in Tirana.

    NATO allies agree to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2035

    Reza Pahlavi: “This Is Our Berlin Wall Moment” — Exiled Prince Calls for Global Support as Iran Nears Regime Collapse

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Home ENGLISH

Merkel and Macron Find the Strength for Europe

23 May, 2020
in ENGLISH, English OP/ED
A A
The German, French and European Union flags flutter in the wind at the Chancellery in Berlin on April 29, 2019 ahead of the West Balkans conference. - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are hosting the Western Balkans leaders and EU members Croatia and Slovenia hoping to reboot a dialogue between bitter foes Serbia and Kosovo over one of the Balkans' thorniest disputes. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

The German, French and European Union flags flutter in the wind at the Chancellery in Berlin on April 29, 2019 ahead of the West Balkans conference. - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are hosting the Western Balkans leaders and EU members Croatia and Slovenia hoping to reboot a dialogue between bitter foes Serbia and Kosovo over one of the Balkans' thorniest disputes. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

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By Peter Müller

France and Germany have once again banded together for the greater good in Europe. Their show of unity was long overdue.

When Emmanuel Macron talks about a weighty new initiative, it sounds something like this: “What we have accomplished here is sensational.” When Angela Merkel introduces the same plan, she says: “We’ve patched things up, so to speak, between Germany and France.”

In this case, the euphoria of the French president seems more appropriate than the sobriety of the German chancellor. The two want to cushion the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic with a 500 billion-euro ($545-billion) recovery fund that would apply to the entire EU. It’s an historic step for the bloc and a strong sign of solidarity from stronger member states toward weaker ones.

If Merkel and Macron have their way, the European Commission will be allowed to take on significant amounts of debt for the first time. The money could then be distributed as grants to member states that have been hit particularly hard by the corona crisis. And, according to the concept as it stands now, they wouldn’t even have to pay the money back.

To date, the German government has been unwavering in its rejection of a “transfer union.” But now, Merkel is taking a step in that very direction. To be sure, Germany would not be liable for the entire 500 billion. At most, it would only be on the hook for 25 percent — the German share of the EU budget. That’s why, strictly speaking, Merkel is right when she says Germany has not consented to eurobonds, or joint debt. Nevertheless, the current proposal would have been unthinkable in the pre-coronavirus era.

Newfound Strength

Back in March and April, it still seemed likely that COVID-19 could sound the death knell for the EU. Fearful member states turned inward and began acting in their own self-interest, posting border guards on internal frontiers and refusing to show even the slightest hint of solidarity. Initially, Germany didn’t even want to export medical equipment. And then, the German government refused to agree to corona bonds in order to provide aid to needy member states. The prevailing attitude within the bloc appeared to be “every man for himself.”

But now, there has been a sudden change of heart: Germany and France appear to have enough strength leftover for Europe, after all.

The road to compromise was longer for Merkel than for Macron. Since taking office, the French president has been pushing to make the eurozone crisis-proof. Among his slew of initiatives, he has called for a common budget to help countries that run into financial difficulty through no fault of their own. The pandemic and its repercussions have been like a validation of this idea.

On top of that, the crisis has further intensified countries’ fears of Germany’s economic supremacy. Berlin can afford to prop up companies with subsidies, but other member states lack the funds. A gesture of solidarity was long overdue. Fortunately, Merkel recognized this. “The nation state alone has no future,” she said about the EU. “Germany will only prosper in the long run if Europe prospers.”

Politically, Merkel can afford to cede some ground to the French president because she’s currently unchallenged in foreign and European policy. Unlike in the struggles over the euro and Greece, she has no reason to fear rebellion from within the ranks of her party. The recent German high court ruling regarding the questionable legality of European Central Bank bond purchases has likewise focused minds: The days in which European leaders could rely on the ECB bazooka have passed.

Late but Not Too Late

Now, it’s up to the French and German leaders to take advantage of their new momentum and find a way to negotiate away the resistance of countries like Austria and the Netherlands, both of which would prefer to get through the crisis without European debt. As a compromise, there could be rules ensuring the 500 billion euros aren’t used to prop up the static status quo in southern Europe and are instead invested in future-oriented projects. Because if the EU is going to burden future generations with new debt, then those investments should at least serve their interests, for example by protecting the climate.

But that won’t be enough. On the world stage, Europe is in danger of being crushed between China and the U.S. There’s also the migration issue, which has remained unresolved for years. On the Turkish-Greek border, refugees have been dispersed by gunfire. In Hungary, some were kept for a long time in camps that the European Court of Justice has compared to prisons. These kinds of things undermine Europe’s foundation at least as much as a severe economic crisis. Without a powerful commitment from Merkel and Macron, nothing will change for the better, unfortunately.

Germany has been late to spring to action, but not too late. Whether this newfound courage will bear fruit will be decisive for the future of Europe./SPIEGEL

 

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