Germany in renewed push for EU treaty change

Features look at the continued evolution of a strategy by Germany to secure the survival and development of the eurozone.

In particular, features discuss comments by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble in March 2014 in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt and in a joint article written with UK Finance Minister George Osborne in the Financial Times.

Mr Schäuble said that discussions on revising treaties to secure the eurozone's architecture would begin after the European Parliament elections in May 2014.

'After the EU elections the debate about treaty change will be back on the table. The federal government will plead for institutional improvements, at least in the eurozone. The monetary union needs a joint finance and economic policy, with corresponding institutions'.

Mr Schäuble also subscribed to the idea that further eurozone integration should not become a disadvantage for the countries outside the euro, a viewpoint which would please the UK government.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 28.03.14: Germany backs UK over calls for eurozone protection http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26780836

ESO: Background Information: Merkel the UK's 'most important partner' on EU reform http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-the-uks-most-important-partner-on-eu-reform/

ESO: Background information: Schäuble advocates separate eurozone parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/schauble-advocates-separate-eurozone-parliament/

ESO: Background information: Germany revives EU treaty change debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-revives-eu-treaty-change-debate/

Blog: Open Europe, 28.03.14: UK and Germany present united front in favour of EU reform http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/uk-and-germany-present-united-front-in.html

Open Europe: Briefing, February 2014: New Open Europe briefing: A new Anglo-German bargain on EU reform? Key opportunities and pitfalls http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Content/Documents/Pdfs/140224AngloGermanbargain.pdf

ESO: Background information: Renegotiating the UK’s membership of the EU: Mission Possible? / David Cameron: My seven targets for a new EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/renegotiating-the-uks-membership-of-the-eu-mission-possible-david-cameron-my-seven-targets-for-a-new-eu/

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