Defending Germany’s European Policy

Without any doubt, Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel and her government have shaped the course of the never ending euro and sovereign debt crisis management to a very large extent. One has to remember, however, that Angela Merkel was rather reluctant to adopt a dominant role within this process, she even was accused of inaction and hesitancies by her predecessor Helmut Kohl, and Poland’s foreign minister RadekSikorski confessed in November 2011 that in the light of the tremendous crisis he feared German power less than German inactivity.

Merkel’s and Germany’s strong commitment and huge contribution to saving the euro have been clearly and consequently guided by a doctrine of severe budgetary discipline, austerity and structutural reforms.
Despite the fact that each of the numerous steps towards this new treaty was undertaken by the Franco-German tandem called Merkozy, it was chancellor Merkel who was accused of an exaggerated austerity obsession which – as her detractors asserted – would ruin Europe.

Particularly after the victory of François Hollande on 6 May, Merkel appeared more and more isolated and her leadership role was increasingly criticized. Confronted with Hollande’s campaign driven hazardous claims for a debt financed growth pact, Euro-bonds and a weakening of the austerity course – claims which were immediately seized by numerous other European leaders – Merkel was addressed as stingy Mrs No.

• Primary Source

ISPI: Commentary: Defending Germany’s European Policy [PDF] http://www.ispionline.it/sites/default/files/pubblicazioni/commentary_mullerbrandeckbocquet_21.06.2012.pdf

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