23 Jun
Defence without America? What Europeans are (and aren’t) ready for
Days before a high-stakes NATO summit, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) hosts to a timely webinar on European public attitudes towards Europe’s defence,…
German foreign policy leadership
A new chapter in German politics
Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin to discuss the inauguration of the new German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz
From fence-sitter to pace-setter: How Merz’s Germany can lead Europe
On foreign policy, Germany’s new chancellor will be pulled between conservatism and radicalism. For Europe’s sake, he must choose the latter
5 May
La nuova Germania di Merz nella post-globalizzazione
Già prima di insediarsi come nuovo cancelliere tedesco, Friedrich Merz ha cambiato volto alla Germania e a tutta l’Unione europea. Il ritorno di una Germania…
Germany’s election results: Continuity or turning point?
On the morning after Germany’s election, Searching for Deutschland hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin were joined for a live webinar by ECFR colleagues Timo Lochocki and…
Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast
Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin to discuss ECFR’s new podcast mini-series, Searching for Deutschland
The likely lads: Why Merz’s new political generation will decide Germany’s future
Friedrich Merz is likely to be the next chancellor of Germany. But the CDU leader will usher in a generational shift, moving the country away from its Europe-first approach and towards new intergovernmental alliances
Home alone: Germany’s security and defence policy when its closest allies are gone
By relying extensively on France and the US for its security and defence, Germany could easily find itself isolated and at risk. Berlin needs to act fast
Wheels up for Vilnius: Three lessons Germany’s NATO partners should draw from its new national security strategy
Germany’s first ever national security strategy contained few big surprises – but the country’s NATO partners can still draw three key lessons from the document
The German scapegoat: Berlin’s inevitable role in the US presidential election
Germany cannot avoid being dragged into election debates in the US. On defence, it should focus on its own national security interests
Publications
Beyond Merkelism: What Europeans expect of post-election Germany
Paradoxically, to fulfil many Europeans’ expectations, Berlin will need to revise the principles of Merkelism that created this trust
How to prevent Germany from becoming Eurosceptic
To engage more confidently with a world that is changing, outward-looking Germans need to shape a progressive new national identity before it is defined by the forces of isolation and exclusion
The big engine that might: How France and Germany can build a geopolitical Europe
The EU Coalition Explorer survey reveals the importance of Germany and France within the EU, and the impact they can have when they cooperate with each other
The Young and the Restful: Why young Germans have no vision for Europe
Polls and interviews conducted for the paper indicate that German millennials are surprisingly conservative and liable to status quo bias
Germany votes: European dilemmas in the Federal Election
In the federal election year, Germans are ready to give new European solutions a strong boost and take more risks
Leading from the centre: Germany’s role in Europe
Berlin does not want to dominate Europe, but to exercise leadership via EU institutions – something that will be essential in a post-Brexit world
Reframing Germany’s Russia policy – an opportunity for the EU
Ukraine crisis shows Berlin’s Russia policy is out of date
The German election: What Europe expects – and what Germany will not do
Germany will not provide clear leadership for Europe
A German model for Europe?
Why the German model is not a blueprint for Europe
Reinventing Europe: Germany debates political union
From our Reinvention of Europe series of National papers
Articles
From fence-sitter to pace-setter: How Merz’s Germany can lead Europe
On foreign policy, Germany’s new chancellor will be pulled between conservatism and radicalism. For Europe’s sake, he must choose the latter
The likely lads: Why Merz’s new political generation will decide Germany’s future
Friedrich Merz is likely to be the next chancellor of Germany. But the CDU leader will usher in a generational shift, moving the country away from its Europe-first approach and towards new intergovernmental alliances
Home alone: Germany’s security and defence policy when its closest allies are gone
By relying extensively on France and the US for its security and defence, Germany could easily find itself isolated and at risk. Berlin needs to act fast
Wheels up for Vilnius: Three lessons Germany’s NATO partners should draw from its new national security strategy
Germany’s first ever national security strategy contained few big surprises – but the country’s NATO partners can still draw three key lessons from the document
The German scapegoat: Berlin’s inevitable role in the US presidential election
Germany cannot avoid being dragged into election debates in the US. On defence, it should focus on its own national security interests
Repair, replace, reimburse: Sustaining a European tank coalition for Ukraine
Military help for Ukraine is moving towards serious questions of logistics – but more countries still need to step forward. Here is how the next-stage coalition could look
The Leopard plan: How European tanks can help Ukraine take back its territory
Ukraine needs to move to a new phase of the war if it is to reclaim its territory occupied by Russia. A European plan to supply Leopard tanks should be at the heart of this effort
Europe’s other transatlantic friend: Germany’s and Canada’s new energy partnership
Germany’s new energy partnership with Canada faces a range of technical and political challenges. But sticking with it could bring major benefits for both sides
Arm for the storm: Germany’s new security strategy
Germany’s National Security Strategy should aim for more than just a return to the status quo ante but with more money. The Zeitenwende is forcing Germany to reinvent itself as a European security actor
Turn of phrase: Germany’s Zeitenwende
Scholz’s Zeitenwende speech was widely viewed as a major adjustment to Germany’s foreign and security policy. But, six months on, it is unclear whether the country is up to the task
Podcasts
A new chapter in German politics
Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin to discuss the inauguration of the new German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Germany’s election results: Continuity or turning point?
On the morning after Germany’s election, Searching for Deutschland hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin were joined for a live webinar by ECFR colleagues Timo Lochocki and…
Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast
Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin to discuss ECFR’s new podcast mini-series, Searching for Deutschland
German foreign policy with Christoph Heusgen
Mark Leonard is joined by Christoph Heusgen to talk about Germany’s foreign policy
Live from the Munich Security Conference: Where is world politics turning?
Mark Leonard reports live from the Munich Security Conference
The Leopards are free!
Mark Leonard, Camille Grand, Gustav Gressel, Jana Puglierin, and Jeremy Shapiro discuss what the Leopard 2 decision means for the war in Ukraine
Machtwechsel: The new generation of German politicians
Mark Leonard discusses with Anna Sauerbrey her book “Machtwechsel” and the new generation of German politicians
Germany’s Zeitenwende: what does it mean for Europe?
German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is facing criticism for not meeting the expectations he created with his Zeitenwende speech. But how fair is this criticism?
Germany’s election result and what it means for Europe
How are the German election results being perceived throughout Europe? And what do they mean for the future of our continent?
Lead time: How Germany should move on from Merkel | Episode 1 – Climate Policy
Whoever wins the election, the next German government must approach climate action more systematically and in a more sustained fashion
Events
23 Jun
Defence without America? What Europeans are (and aren’t) ready for
Days before a high-stakes NATO summit, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) hosts to a timely webinar on European public attitudes towards Europe’s defence,…
5 May
La nuova Germania di Merz nella post-globalizzazione
Già prima di insediarsi come nuovo cancelliere tedesco, Friedrich Merz ha cambiato volto alla Germania e a tutta l’Unione europea. Il ritorno di una Germania…
1 Dec
Europe debates | Feministische Außenpolitik und militärisches Engagement sind inkompatibel
This debate is part of ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project funded by Stiftung Mercator
8 Nov
The role of Germany in Europe in times of war: Potential for German-Bulgarian cooperation
We will discuss Germany’s role in Europe and will reflect on how the new European order is viewed in Berlin
3 Mar
Zeitenwende: Germany as a pioneer in foreign and security policy?
A webinar on Germany’s change of course in defence spending amid the ongoing war in Ukraine
8 Feb
Japanese and EU Indo-Pacific policies after the German and Japanese elections
How will the new administrations in Germany and Japan impact the EU’s and Japanese Indo-Pacific strategy and China policy?
14 Dec
Traffic light coalition seen from the outside: what does Europe think?
What are the expectations of the coalition´s foreign and security policies? Will Germany’s ambitious climate policy spark mirroring across the bloc?
9 Dec
Annual Council Meeting 2021
ECFR’s Council Members – Europe’s leading decision-makers, opinion-shapers, and public intellectuals – gathered together on 9-10 December in Berlin for ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting to connect and discuss the myriad issues facing Europe and the European Union today
28 Sep
Niemcy pod Lupą – edycja specjalna konferencji “Świat pod Lupą”
Zastanowimy się, co era Merkel znaczyła w historii tego kraju i jak dziedzictwo pani kanclerz wpływać będzie na jego dalsze losy
27 Sep
German elections debriefing: results are in, what’s next?
Which coalition is likely? Who are the winners and losers, and likely candidates for main political jobs?
In the media
I think Merz sees France and Poland as really important partners for Germany, but he knows that the coalitions of the willing that will shape the future of Europe will have to be wider
Piotr Buras on Friedrich Merz’s visit to Warsaw and how he wants to give new impetus to Polish-German relations
Jana Puglierin on the new German government’s plan to centralise foreign and European policy
When we talk about a ceasefire or an end to war, in order to have peace and not a frozen conflict, there must be so-called security guarantees
