EU: The end of the Merkel-Macron era — a mediocre legacy?

Thursday night was probably the last time German Chancellor Angela Merkel walked across the gravel in the Elysée Palace's courtyard to talk business with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The latter came towards her and, with large smiles behind their face masks, both did a fist bump while patting each other on the arm.

Standing in front of a crowd of journalists, they then announced the night's topics: Afghanistan, climate, European cooperation.

Read more at: The end of the Merkel-Macron era — a mediocre legacy? | News | DW | 16.09.2021

EU: The Costs of Merkel’s Surrender to Hungarian and Polish Extortion - by George Soros

The European Union is facing an existential threat, and yet the EU’s leadership is responding with a compromise that appears to reflect a belief that the threat can simply be wished away. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s kleptocratic regime in Hungary and, to a lesser extent, the illiberal Law and Justice (PiS) government in Poland, are brazenly challenging the values on which the European Union has been built. Treating their challenge as a legitimate political stance deserving of recognition and a compromise solution will only add – massively – to the risks that the EU now faces.

Orbán has stolen and misappropriated vast sums during his decade in power, including EU funds that should have gone to benefit the Hungarian people. He cannot afford to have a practical limit imposed on his personal and political corruption, because these illicit proceeds are the grease that keeps the wheels of his regime turning smoothly and his cronies in line.

Threatening to torpedo the EU’s finances by vetoing its budget was a desperate gamble on Orbán’s part. But it was a bluff that should have been called. Unfortunately, Merkel has, it appears, caved in to Hungarian and Polish extortion.

Read more at: The Costs of Merkel’s Surrender to Hungarian and Polish Extortion by George Soros - Project Syndicate

EU - a vision for the future: Macron sets out 10-year vision for EU with call for more integration

French president says EU must have effective defence policy, larger budget and integrated capital markets.

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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/15/emmanuel-macron-sets-out-10-year-vision-for-eu-with-call-for-more-integration?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Add_to_Firefox

Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin agree to fight to save Iran nuclear deal

Putin said he expected the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to ship Russian gas to Germany to be finished by the end of 2021 despite delays caused by US sanctions.

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https://www.euronews.com/2020/01/11/merkel-meeting-putin-amid-escalating-iran-us-tensions

EU - Germany: Merkel calls for Europe to stand up against far-right parties - by Andreas Rinke

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Saturday for Europe to push back against far-right parties, saying populist movements wanted to destroy core European values such as fighting corruption and protecting minorities.

Merkel made the remarks when asked about a scandal engulfing Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, whose leader Heinz-Christian Strache quit on Saturday as government vice-chancellor after he was videoed offering state contracts in exchange for political support.

Read more at: Merkel calls for Europe to stand up against far-right parties - Reuters

Saudi Arabia: France and Britain still selling weapons to Saudi Arabia despite killing and human rights problems

Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Emmanuel Macron clash over Saudi weapons.

Read more at :
https://p.dw.com/p/37GIs

Turkey-Germany Relation: Expectations that Bilateral ties will improve

Turkish president will meet Chancellor Merkel to discuss bilateral ties, Turkish currency crisis and situation in Syria.

Read more at :
http://aje.io/tpczd

EU Summit: Migrant Processing, Cooperation: as EU Members reach a deal on migrants early Saturday 29/6 morning

'Italy is not alone anymore': EU leaders reach agreement on migrant processing

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CBC News Report EU Migrant deal

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EU: Macron and Merkel announce plans for new Eurozone budget

Merkel, Macron announce plans for new eurozone budget

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http://p.dw.com/p/2zrGq

Turkey: Germany hits back at Erdogan comments in Armenia row

Chancellor Angela Merkel's office hit back Monday at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a blistering row over a German parliamentary vote declaring the Ottoman Empire committed genocide against Armenians.

Erdogan has angrily condemned last week's vote on the World War I massacres, charging that the 11 German MPs with Turkish roots who backed it supported "terrorism" by the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), and demanding Sunday that they undergo "blood tests" to see "what kind of Turks they are".

But Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said that while Berlin also considers the PKK a terrorist group, "to associate individual members of parliament with terrorism is utterly incomprehensible to us".

Integration Minister Aydan Ozoguz labelled the terrorism claim "incredible" and said it "represents a severe test for German-Turkish relations".

The June 2 vote added yet another bone of contention to Turkey's troubled relationship with the European Union, and comes as the 28-nation bloc is banking on Ankara to block the flow of migrants into Europe.

Seibert made clear that "the resolution was a political initiative that emerged from the midst of the Bundestag, which is a democratically-elected, independent organ under our constitution".

"The Bundestag reached a sovereign decision. That must be respected," Seibert said, adding that this was the message Merkel had given to the Turkish president.

Read more: Flash - Germany hits back at Erdogan comments in Armenia row - France 24

EU: France-Germany: Merkel Likely To Compromise with Hollande on Several Points - by Ralf Neukirch and Mathieu von Rohr

Despite his anti-austerity rhetoric on the campaign trail and her open support for Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande and Angela Merkel are expected to make compromises during their first meeting on Tuesday. In the euro crisis, the pair has no choice but to get along.

Personal dealings with Hollande, for example, might be easier than they were with his predecessor. He's considered a pragmatic and amiable politician who seeks compromises. Merkel also believes that Hollande could help to improve Germany's image in Europe. She worries about the vehemently anti-German reactions in many European countries that are suffering under austerity measures. In that sense it could suit her well if Hollande were able to claim that he convinced the Germans to soften their position.

It has only been since Hollande's election on Sunday a week ago that staff for both the president-elect and the chancellor have begun speaking directly to each other. In the days since, they have been intensively preparing for the leaders' first meeting. On Friday, Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the goal of the meeting would solely be for the two to get acquainted with each other and that no decisions would be made.

Merkel has made clear to Holland that she has drawn a red line that the chancellor will not allow to be crossed: The fiscal pact cannot be weakened. She is expected to insist on this during the very first meeting. But officials in the Chancellery also know full well that the new French president cannot return home to Paris empty handed.

Merkel is already prepared to agree to complement the fiscal pact with a growth component. This would allow Hollande to explain to voters that he was able to prevail with his demand for an end to strict austerity policies. The measures planned include allowing EU structural funds to be used to invest in new projects. Hollande can also already claim victory on one point. Merkel has no fundamental objections to a plan to increase capital at the European Investment Bank, the EU's investment arm, by €10 billion ($12.86 billion), a move that would increase its lending capacity to €60 billion. The project bonds that Hollande is proposing to finance major infrastructure projects, for example, could also become a reality. Merkel is prepared in principle to agree to the project bonds -- as long as they don't cost Germany anything.


Read more:  Merkel Likely To Compromise with Hollande on Several Points - SPIEGEL ONLIN

Forbes.com: Merkel says euro has helped Europe despite financial market turbulence - Forbes.com

For the complete report from Forbes.com click on this link

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the euro currency has significantly helped Europe assert itself despite turbulence in the financial markets worldwide. In her written statement marking the 10th anniversary of the European Central Bank (ECB), Merkel said: 'The euro, which is the second most important currency in the world, has significantly contributed to Europe's ability to successfully assert itself in the global world and despite turbulence in the financial markets.'

EurActiv.com - Merkel tops EU-wide poll

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Merkel tops EU-wide poll

A poll by Harris Interactive found most European citizens consider German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be the most influential leader in Europe

Asked about concrete leaders, Europeans strongly favour Angela Merkel, who leads the chart in European countries. She is considered to be the most influential leader in Europe by 38% of the French, 29% of the Germans, 30% of the Spanish, 27% of the Italians and 18% of the British. Nicolas Sarkozy scores 18% in his own country, 10% in Germany, 16% in Spain, 13% in Italy and 9% in Great Britain. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has a modest rating of 1% in France, 3% in Germany, 7% in Spain and 11% in Italy.

A big difference is obvious regarding the perceptions of the Americans, who consider Brown the most influential leader in Europe with 23%, compared with 8% for Merkel and 9% for Sarkozy.

Note EU-Digest: the poll clearly shows how ignorant of the American population is in general when it comes to any knowledge of world wide politics.

Guardian: Germany pours cold water on Sarkozy union - by Ian Traynor

For the complete report from The Guardian click on this link

Germany pours cold water on Sarkozy union - by Ian Traynor

President Nicolas Sarkozy was last night forced to back away from an ambitious scheme to launch a French-led "Mediterranean Union" linking the EU's southern states in a political club with the Maghreb, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries including Israel. Sarkozy had planned to launch the bold new union when France took over the presidency of the EU in July, but climbed down after fierce opposition from Angela Merkel, the German chancellor. At an EU summit in Brussels last night, Sarkozy and Merkel jointly proposed a much looser grouping, to be initiated at a summit of EU and Mediterranean countries in Paris in July. Worried that the Sarkozy scheme would split the EU while leaving the wealthier countries of Germany and Scandinavia footing the bill for an exercise in French aggrandisement, Merkel was said to have threatened to boycott the Paris summit unless Sarkozy scaled back his plans.

Bloomberg.com: Sarkozy, Merkel Find Compromise Over Mediterranean Union Spat - by Bryan Parkin and Francois De Beaupuy

For the complete report from Bloomberg.com click on this link

Sarkozy, Merkel Find Compromise Over Mediterranean Union Spat - by Bryan Parkin and Francois De Beaupuy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel said they resolved a policy spat over a plan to set up a Mediterranean Union that strained a traditional show of Franco-German unity ahead of a European Union summit. Sarkozy and Merkel said after talks late yesterday in Hannover, Germany, that a French initiative to improve cooperation between the north and south Mediterranean seaboards would not be an exclusive club but open to all 27 states of the EU. Merkel has criticized Sarkozy's initiative, indicating that exclusivity may hurt Franco-German ties in the 27-state trade bloc.

``We've made efforts to reach out toward each other - that's the rule of the game on European matters,'' Sarkozy told reporters after the 90-minute talks with the German leader. ``In coming days, you will see that we found a compromise on the Mediterranean Union that excludes nobody.''

EarthTimes: Merkel and Sarkozy to dine on brief encounter

For the complete report from the EarthTimes click on this link

Merkel and Sarkozy to dine on brief encounter

Amid friction in the Franco-German relationship, Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to dine Monday with President Nicolas Sarkozy during a brief encounter at the CeBIT computing trade fair. Sarkozy will be in Hanover, Germany to highlight the software prowess of France, which has been appointed this year's "partner nation" of CeBIT, an annual, 75-nation expo that begins Tuesday. The president has regularly flown the flag for French exports, so there was no question of missing the Monday evening ceremonies to launch the fair, which focusses on the computing needs of government and big corporations.

Sarkozy's plan to set up a Mediterranean Union, an organization for southern European Union states to consult with non-EU neighbours, has annoyed Berlin, which objects to a forum where it will be on the outer. Merkel says she supports closer relations in the region but opposes setting up a new organization to manage them.Berlin's warnings against "parallel structures" have been rejected by Sarkozy aides, who say there has been a Council of the Baltic Sea States since 1992 on the EU's northern flank. But the Germans say this is not a valid argument, since most of the nations on that sea are now EU members.

FT.com - Merkel rebuffs Sarkozy on Mediterranean Union plan - by John Thornhill and Bertrand Benoit

For the complete report from the FT.com click on this link

Merkel rebuffs Sarkozy on Mediterranean Union plan-by John Thornhill and Bertrand Benoit

Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, pointedly told France's ruling UMP party yesterday that the future stability of the Mediterranean region affected the whole European Union and that all 27 member states should be involved in the engagement process. Mrs Merkel's comments, at a joint appearance in Paris with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, appeared to be a polite rebuff of his proposals to launch a Mediterranean Union, linking those EU member states that border the sea with their north African neighbours. However, Mrs Merkel said that her CDU party was united with Mr Sarkozy's UMP party - both on the political centre-right - in the view that the EU should offer Turkey a privileged partnership rather than full membership as envisaged by current accession talks.

Forbes.com: Italy's Prodi sees strong euro impact on energy imports curbing trade deficit-" EU consumer unfortunately not benefiting from strong Euro"

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Italy's Prodi sees strong euro impact on energy imports curbing trade deficit

Italy's prime minister Romano Prodi sees the strong euro cutting the cost of imported energy fuels, bringing down the country's trade deficit with the rest of the world, said a source close to Prodi. Speaking after yesterday's summit between Prodi and German chancellor Angela Merkel, the source said both countries with their strong industrial sectors are seeing a similar trend in the trade balances with the rest of the world.

Note EU-Digest: It is shameful how some corporations in Europe including petro-chemical corporations are profiting from the strong euro and not passing these benefits on to the consumer. Consumers in the EU are not seeing the price of gasoline (which is tied to the dollar) drop, or for that matter just about any product which is bought outside the EU and quoted in US dollars. For example Nike shoes (made in the Far East) selling in America for around US $ 65.00 (43 euro's) are still being listed in Europe for over 100 euro's. Instead of whining about the strong euro European politicians should go after corporations who are price gouching and getting away with making huge profits.

AFP: Merkel consolidates power as Bavarian rival steps aside

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Merkel consolidates power as Bavarian rival steps aside

A longtime rival of German Chancellor Angela Merkel exited the political stage at the weekend, leaving her more powerful than ever but faced with mounting tensions in her ruling coalition. Edmund Stoiber stood down as Bavarian state premier and head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the regional sister party of Merkel's conservatives and a member of her government, after 14 years at the helm.

Stoiber, 66, who unsuccessfully ran for election as federal chancellor in 2002 after beating Merkel for the conservatives' nomination, will now work in Brussels as head of a group charged with cutting European Union red tape.

Forbes.com: Sarkozy sees French, German growth unaffected in lasting way by market turmoil

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Sarkozy sees French, German growth unaffected in lasting way by market turmoil

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said he is convinced that the current turmoil on financial markets will not affect the growth of the French or German economies in a lasting way, Sarkozy's office said.