Germany’s competing visions of Europe

Article discusses visions for the future of the European Union from the two main parties of Germany - the CDU's 'A strong Europe - a bright future for Germany' and the SPD's 'Let's change Europe'.

The two programmes have differing ideological positions on the political response to the eurozone crisis - but they both talk about more Europe, not less.

There is no real Eurosceptic party in Germany. German political debate is about competing visions of a future Europe - not about the existing terms.

Spiegel reported in late August 2012 that Chancellor Angela Merkel's plans for a new treaty governing the European Union were becoming more concrete. The newspaper said that it had learned that the German leader wanted the EU to begin working on a draft treaty during 2012, with the aim of providing the EU Institutions with greater power to monitor budgets. But many countries were deeply opposed to the idea. Mrs Merkel was said to be calling for a convention to draft the treaty to be convened before the end of 2012.

There is no real Eurosceptic party in Germany. German political debate is about competing visions of a future Europe - not about the existing terms.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 27.8.12: Merkel mulls 'convention' to draw up new EU treaty http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/merkel-wants-convention-draw-new-news-514455

Spiegel Online International, 27.8.12: Merkel Pushes for Convention to Draft New EU Treaty http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/merkel-pushes-for-new-eu-treaty-with-tougher-fiscal-rules-a-852292.html

Website; Ich will Europa http://www.ich-will-europa.de/

EUObserver, 27.8.12: Merkel wants EU treaty convention by end of year http://euobserver.com/institutional/117333

EUObserver, 30.8.12: France and Germany moving towards closer political union http://euobserver.com/economic/117367

EUObserver, 31.8.12: A fig leaf of continental proportions http://euobserver.com/opinion/117387

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