Germany in the EU

Russia’s war against Ukraine has provoked significant changes in German foreign policy. It highlights the need to act as a guarantor of European security. Dr Jana Puglierin outlines the challenges this poses in this Berlin Perspectives.

The Conference on the Future of Europe concluded that the EU needs a fundamental reform to face current challenges. The German government and a group of like-minded states should propose a comprehensive cross-sectoral reform package with the European Monetary Union at its centre.

The European Parliament proposes a reform of the European electoral law in order to strengthen EU-democracy. A core demand: EU-wide electoral lists. Germany should get off the side lines and support it proactively.

The reform of EU asylum and migration policy has been controversial for a long time. A values-based approach by some EU countries to circumvent vetoes by individual member states could counteract the dysfunctional structures in this area.

The results of the Berlin Futures 2020/2021 strategy group were summarised in a policy brief, which was published in early 2022 as part of the Berlin Perspectives publication series.

Strategic foresight enables policymakers to be better prepared and more proactive in emergency policy responses. The new German government should use its term of office to better integrate foresight analysis into decision-making processes.

The European project will remain sustainable as long as the EU is capable of change. During the 13th German-Nordic-Baltic Forum, experts discussed solutions for the EU in the world, its values and sustainability, and the Future Conference.

Provided successful negotiations, the Ampel-coalition is promising a progressive new start for Germany. Its level of ambition on EU policy will largely be determined by its actions on institutions and values, foreign and security policy as well as green economy and finance

The political crisis in Belarus has been ongoing since August 2020. Despite measures taken, the EU still has room of manoeuvre to increase political pressure on Lukashenko. Germany has a central role in resolving the crisis.

Despite numerous initiatives to promote gender equality, there are signs of an EU-wide decline. However, the German EU Council Presidency set the right priorities and achieved some successes.

Five years after the EU-Turkey-Statement, relations between the EU and Turkey remain tense. Germany should use its leadership potential within the EU in order to have a positive influence on the future development of EU-Turkey relations.

What does European resilience mean? How can the EU's green goals be implemented despite the pandemic? More than 40 experts discussed these and other questions. The focus of the discussion was on the prospects for cooperation.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the German government´s programme for the EU Council Presidency. Given the abundance of challenges, Germany should follow a two-pronged approach that includes not only urgent problems but also fundamental questions.