Germany: Being European in a Renationalising Europe
The times when the German population met the EU with almost unconditional and passive support might be over, but it is still convinced that any step backwards would entrain even bigger damages for Germany’s stability, peace and wealth.
Germany remains committed to a high degree of European integration, but the overall arrangement has to adapt to a post-crises Europe, taking into consideration the lessons learned from the still ongoing economic crisis, the rise of populist parties, the refugee crisis, and the Ukraine crisis and the stand-off with Russia.
The EU’s legitimacy in Germany does not require specific new policies. First, it requires effective solutions to pressing problems – something the EU seems to be failing to do. Second, it requires national leaders, which identify challenges as challenges for the whole community and who accept a common approach to face them.
This publication is part of the "Building Bridges Paper Series". For more information about this project, click here.
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Germany: Being European in a Renationalising Europe
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