Germany at the helm: How Berlin kept Europe together in 2020
Germany managed to keep Europe together in a time of severe crisis. The country led diplomatic efforts to find an agreement on the EU’s seven-year budget and its recovery fund
German foreign policy leadership
Why a ‘Black-Green’ German government could finally create a coherent defence policy
The election of a new CDU party leader last weekend might be the first step towards a novel Black-Green coalition government – whose defence policy could be surprisingly visionary, if the parties are willing to work together
After Merkel: Why Germany must end its inertia on defence and security
Angela Merkel has long resisted updating German defence policy for today’s challenges. Her successor will not be able to avoid the challenge forever
How to spend it: Why Germany is saying goodbye to frugality
Germany, together with France, aims to play a decisive role in the reconstruction of the post-coronavirus world
A balance of values and interests: Germany, realpolitik, and Russia policy
Recent events show that Moscow does not take Berlin seriously when it acts alone. Germany must coordinate its actions at the European level and find common responses to Russia’s behaviour
Why Germany lost its way on climate policy
The Greens’ drive and plans will be essential if Germany is to regain a leadership role on European climate policy
Beware of mission-accomplished syndrome: Germany and European defence
It is ill-advised for Germany to be complacent on common European defence – especially at a moment when the country holds the presidency of the Council of the EU
What Assad’s ‘victory’ could mean for Syrians in Germany
Germany is a safe haven for Syrians for now – but a government decision to lift the ban on sending refugees back to Assad’s Syria would have catastrophic consequences
Shared goals: How Germany’s crisis response could strengthen Europe
Berlin has quietly made concessions to new calls for greater solidarity. But back home this consensus may not last forever
The EU can emerge stronger from the pandemic if Merkel seizes the moment
One member state has become a dictatorship as others spiral into debt. Germany must lead the European Union through the coronavirus crisis