Von Der Leyen Sets Out Vision For A Sovereign EU
The new European Commission line-up signals an appetite to take on the United States, China, and Russia
A Vulnerable Germany Finds it Hard to Say No to China
On her trip to China, Chancellor Angela Merkel did little to distance Berlin from Beijing.
With Russia, Transparency No Silver Bullet
Of course transparency on NATO’s Eastern flank is important. But until Russia stops its provocations, it will be hard to reduce tensions.
Merkel’s Government Has Won a Breather
Huge relief for Germany’s coalition parties: the AfD did not come first in Saxony or Brandenburg.
Where Gender Meets Nationalism
The inaugural winner of the Sylke Tempel Essay Prize for Young Women is Annabelle Chapman.
Trump’s Not-So-Empty Troops Threat to Germany
The White House is threatening to withdraw US troops from Germany. With Donald Trump, this could actually happen.
Prospecting Claims, Digging for Nuggets
Germany and Europe will not find solutions to the climate crisis without the United States
Mission Possible in the Strait of Hormuz
Giving a flat “no” to a naval mission to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf does not solve Germany’s dilemmas.
East Germany Goes East
Despite Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on protestors, politicians in eastern Germany are emphasizing their ties with Russia—and practicing post-communist identity politics.
Getting Deterrence Right on NATO’s Eastern Flank
Poland won’t exactly be getting the “Fort Trump” it wanted. But NATO’s robust force posture in the East, like Russia’s, still risks being misinterpreted.
The Price of Overcoming Unanimity
The European Union often fails to make its mark on global affairs due to internal divisions. Scrapping the unanimity requirement for European foreign policy positions could help—but it can’t come without burden-sharing.
Von der Leyen’s in and the Spitzenkandidat’s Dead
The German defence minister has squeaked through by just nine votes. But it is the EU institutions, and not Von der Leyen, who are to blame.
Von der Leyen Is in Trouble
The European Council’s pick is in serious doubt after MEPs left meetings with her this week unimpressed.
Enhancing the EU’s Civilian Missions
Last year member states agreed to reform the EU’s civilian CSDP missions. Now tough decisions loom.
A German Paradox
For the first time in over 50 years, a German has been nominated as President of the European Commission. Yet Ursula von der Leyen’s loudest critics are back home.
Institutional War
By choosing Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council has thrown down the gauntlet to the European Parliament.
Spoiled Victors
Angela Merkel’s carefully-crafted compromise idea was rejected by centrist members of her EPP group, including Ireland’s Leo Varadkar.
Failure in Brussels
National leaders were unable to agree this week on who to appoint for any of the EU’s top jobs.
+++ The coronavirus crisis has brought Europe and the rest of the world to a standstill. What are the effects of the pandemic on international affairs? The future of the EU depends on how it handles the crisis, argues Daniela Schwarzer. Much is riding on the German EU presidency. David Goodhart makes the case for a retreat from hyperglobalization, and Richard Sennett foresees big changes coming to our way of life; Efi Koutsokosta profiles Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Noah Gordon, in his Carbon Critical column, points out that solar, like oil, has its overcapacity problems; and much more +++
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BERLIN POLICY JOURNAL is a bimonthly digital magazine on European affairs, edited in Germany’s capital and published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). It is best read via our app – on GooglePlay and the Apple AppStore – on tablets and smart phones.