Germany will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union today. Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters writes that the country will face the unenviable task of attempting to chart a path of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, while also addressing the numerous other issues and commitments confronting the EU’s member states

Ewers-Peters, Nele Marianne

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Germany’s	heavy	burdenGermany	will	take	over	the	presidency	of	the	Council	of	the	European	Union	today.	Nele	MarianneEwers-Peters	writes	that	the	country	will	face	the	unenviable	task	of	attempting	to	chart	a	path	ofrecovery	from	the	Covid-19	pandemic,	while	also	addressing	the	numerous	other	issues	andcommitments	confronting	the	EU’s	member	states.As	Germany	takes	over	the	presidency	of	the	Council	of	the	European	Union	today,	it	will	be	facedwith	the	task	of	leading	the	Union	out	of	crisis	mode	and	toward	a	path	to	recovery.	In	this	crisis-ridden	EU,Germany	will	need	to	set	the	agenda	and	strike	a	clear	balance	between	the	many	existing	demands	andexpectations	it	now	confronts,	yet	without	emerging	as	the	EU’s	Zuchtmeister	(disciplinarian)	once	again.Even	prior	to	the	Covid-19	pandemic,	Germany’s	presidency	agenda	included	negotiations	over	the	EU’sMultiannual	Financial	Framework	(2021-2027),	reform	of	the	asylum	system	and	burden-sharing	for	incomingrefugees,	the	Green	Deal,	which	was	introduced	by	the	European	Commission	in	2019,	and	the	negotiations	overthe	EU’s	future	relationship	with	the	UK.	Moreover,	tensions	in	the	transatlantic	relationship	with	the	US,	an	EUsummit	with	China,	and	on-going	sanctions	against	Russia	linked	to	the	Ukraine	conflict	form	another	list	ofpriorities	and	responsibilities	that	will	need	to	be	tackled	sooner	rather	than	later.With	the	spread	of	Covid-19,	however,	the	winds	have	turned.	Germany’s	Ambassador	to	the	EU,	Michael	Clauß,has	already	expressed	concerns	the	country	will	not	be	able	to	implement	its	ambitious	programme	and	that	it	willhave	to	primarily	focus	on	the	economic	and	financial	recovery	from	the	pandemic.	What	has	become	clear	is	thatGermany,	as	Europe’s	economic	giant,	will	have	to	act	as	the	balancer	and	broker	among	the	other	member	states,their	demands	and	expectations.	Only	by	navigating	through	the	EU’s	diverging	interests	and	addressing	the	risk	ofgeneral	fragmentation	will	Germany	be	able	to	move	the	EU	closer	to	a	community	of	stability	and	solidarity.Immediate	priorities	and	challengesCovid-19	has	changed	Germany’s	priorities	and	the	ensuing	crisis	will	have	a	significant	impact	not	just	on	theGerman	presidency,	but	on	the	‘trio’	of	presidencies	over	the	next	18	months	that	includes	Portugal	and	Slovenia.During	the	last	decade,	it	has	become	clear	that	in	times	of	crisis,	EU	member	states	tend	to	turn	inwards	to	ensuretheir	own	well-being.	Solidarity	is	cracking	under	the	strain	–	and	not	only	among	the	more	Eurosceptic	countries.Angela	Merkel	at	a	European	Council	meeting	in	February	2020,	Credit:	European	CouncilLSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog: Germany’s heavy burden Page 1 of 2		Date originally posted: 2020-07-01Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/07/01/germanys-heavy-burden/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/Germany’s	key	task	will	be	to	create	and	implement	a	well-structured	recovery	plan	that	will	allow	all	member	statesto	benefit	equally.	While	southern	European	countries,	particularly	France,	Italy	and	Spain,	have	been	among	thehardest	hit	by	the	spread	of	Covid-19,	they	were	also	experiencing	economic	problems	before	the	pandemic.Indeed,	Covid-19	is	just	the	latest	in	a	long	list	of	developments	that	have	placed	the	EU	in	an	almost	permanentcrisis	mode.	The	refugee	and	migration	crisis,	as	well	as	the	fallout	from	debates	over	the	rule	of	law	in	Hungaryand	Poland,	have	all	demonstrated	a	lack	of	solidarity	that	is	once	again	clearly	visible.	Germany’s	presidency	isthus	likely	to	be	dominated	by	crisis	management	initiatives.At	the	same	time,	the	EU	must	bolster	its	position	internationally.	Its	response	to	Covid-19	will	be	balanced	againstthe	need	to	maintain	cooperation	with	both	China	and	the	United	States	as	the	Union’s	key	trading	partners.	AsChina	and	the	US	have	clashed	over	the	outbreak	and	have	ongoing	disputes	over	trade	and	other	geopoliticalissues,	the	EU	has	a	clear	incentive	to	underline	its	status	as	a	strong	and	global	actor.	Germany’s	EU	presidencywas	supposed	to	lead	the	Union	towards	a	stronger	global	position	and	greater	stability,	but	it	is	now	expected	tofocus	on	stronger	solidarity	among	the	EU-27	and	facilitating	a	speedy	recovery.Balance	as	the	way	forwardThe	only	way	forward	for	Germany	during	its	EU	presidency	will	be	to	balance	its	commitments	and	priorities.	First,finding	a	balance	that	can	accommodate	the	other	EU	member	states	will	be	key	to	avoiding	fragmentation.	Somemember	states	are	more	affected	by	Covid-19	than	others	and	new	dividing	lines	between	southern,	northern	andeastern	members	have	emerged.	Only	by	balancing	these	competing	demands	and	building	on	Angela	Merkel’scautious	and	goal-oriented	approach	can	Germany	hope	to	ensure	the	stability	of	the	Union	in	the	long-term.Second,	it	will	have	to	balance	its	priorities,	responsibilities	and	tasks.	While	the	immediate	priority	is	ensuring	aspeedy	recovery	from	Covid-19,	other	long-term	strategies	cannot	be	kept	out	of	sight.	The	Green	Deal,	the	nextMultiannual	Financial	Framework,	maintaining	economic	and	fiscal	stability,	and	the	EU’s	foreign	policy	andexternal	relations	will	all	have	to	be	on	the	agenda	in	some	form.	To	meet	the	ambitions	set	out	by	the	Commissionin	2019,	all	actors	will	have	to	pull	together.For	a	speedy	return	to	normality,	cooperation	with	external	actors	will	be	vital	and	here,	again,	balance	will	be	key.Other	crises,	such	as	tensions	in	Ukraine	and	instability	in	the	Mediterranean,	have	not	vanished.	Germany	andEurope	will	be	best	served	by	balancing	their	relations	between	the	East	and	West:	fostering	the	transatlanticrelationship	with	the	US	is	key	for	Europe’s	security,	but	it	must	also	maintain	good	relations	with	China	as	one	ofits	main	trading	partners.As	the	agenda-setter	for	the	second	half	of	2020,	Germany	carries	a	heavy	burden.	Achieving	a	speedy	and	equalrecovery	for	all	EU	member	states	is	a	question	of	unity	and	solidarity.	But	if	Germany	is	able	to	balance	itscommitments	and	demands,	the	EU	can	emerge	as	a	stronger	and	more	stable	Union.Please	read	our	comments	policy	before	commenting.Note:	This	article	gives	the	views	of	the	author,	not	the	position	of	EUROPP	–	European	Politics	and	Policy	or	theLondon	School	of	Economics._________________________________About	the	authorNele	Marianne	Ewers-Peters	–	University	of	KentNele	Marianne	Ewers-Peters	is	Research	Fellow	at	the	Global	Europe	Centre	at	the	University	ofKent.	She	previously	taught	at	the	University	of	Kent	and	University	College	London.	Her	researchfocuses	on	the	relationship	between	security	organisations	including	the	AU,	EU	and	NATO	and	therole	of	member	states	therein.LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) Blog: Germany’s heavy burden Page 2 of 2		Date originally posted: 2020-07-01Permalink: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/07/01/germanys-heavy-burden/Blog homepage: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/

Germany’s heavy burden

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Germany’s heavy burden

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