Germany then and now
Twenty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germany needs to think about its way of exercising power within the EU – and what it hopes to achieve
Experts & Staff
Josef Janning
ECFR Alumni · Head, ECFR Berlin
Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
European integration; EU reform; European foreign and security policy; EU enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy; Europe in the world; global governance; German foreign and security policy; transatlantic relations; Europe/Asia
Languages
English, German
Biography
Josef Janning was a senior policy fellow and head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations until November 2019. His topics of focus include European integration, EU reform, European and German foreign and security policy, global governance and transatlantic relations.
Janning joined the European Council on Foreign Relations in April 2014 as senior policy fellow in the Berlin office. From 2013 to 2014 he was a Mercator Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to that he served as Director of Studies at the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels. Between 2001 and 2010, Janning led the international policy work as Senior Director of the Bertelsmann Foundation, a major private German foundation. Earlier positions in his career include Deputy Director of the Center for Applied Policy Research (CAP) at Munich University from 1995-2007. Previously, he has held teaching positions at the University of Mainz, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a guest professorship at Renmin University of Beijing. He has worked with leading think tanks in Europe, the US and Asia, and engaged in and led various international study groups, high-level groups and commissions.
Janning has published widely on European affairs, International Relations, EU foreign and security policy, German foreign and Europe policy as well as global affairs. On these issues he is also a frequent commentator with German and international media.
Dissecting Juncker’s Commission: Project teams are the real story
Jean-Claude Juncker's new structure for the European Commission represents a major overhaul of its governance
Dissecting Juncker’s Commission: View from Germany
Germany has long favoured restructuring the European Commission, so Berlin approves of Jean-Claude Juncker's reforms
Germany needs more leadership on foreign policy
The German people are ready for more international involvement, if the German government can make the case
Germany’s summer of discontent on foreign policy
Germany prefers co-operation to conflict, but with its five special relationships each facing bad weather, it needs to think about new ways to conduct foreign policy
Five lessons from the “Spitzenkandidaten” European Parliament campaign
Jean-Claude Juncker’s nomination is part of a “silent revolution” in European governance that will transform power within the EU
Seeking a High Representative
Josef Janning on the key characteristics a High Representative should have
Explaining the EP election results: Germany
Merkel’s party comes out on top, and Germany’s first Eurosceptic party will be sending delegates to the EP
Russia, Europe, and the new international order
The premise of an international order defined by the West and shared by the rest has been shown to be faulty
Publications
Untapped potential: How new alliances can strengthen the EU
Fragmentation in the EU makes it increasingly difficult for member states to build coalitions. The EU Coalition Explorer reveals potential new groupings
How to govern a fragmented EU: What Europeans said at the ballot box
The results of the European election confront EU leaders with a considerable challenge: navigating a new, more fragmented, and polarised political environment
Divided at the centre: Germany, Poland, and the troubles of the Trump era
Introduction For most Europeans, it is now obvious that the foreign policy of US President Donald Trump threatens the global liberal order. Trump’s hostility towards…
Crisis and Cohesion in the European Union: A Ten-Year Review
Despite financial and refugee crises, research suggests the European Union is getting stronger, not weaker
Exploring EU Coalitions
New essay collection points way to potential coalitions for flexible European cooperation
The invisible web – from interaction to coalition-building in the EU
Survey of experts in 28 capitals illuminates the complex network of relationships among EU member states
Keeping Europeans together
This volume reflects the diversity of European cohesion. It provides the national context and personal assessments from 28 EU member states
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
Making sense of Europe’s cohesion challenge
A new study from ECFR shows that, perhaps surprisingly, between 2007 and 2014, cohesion among EU member states has improved, even after years of crises
Bear any burden: How EU governments can manage the refugee crisis
The EU should broaden the scope of what is expected of member states on burden sharing on refugee crisis
Articles
Paradigm lost: A post-Merkel Germany in a post-Kohl Europe
If Europe isn’t what it used to be, this is largely because Germany isn’t what it long wanted to be
After the Berlin wall: How Germany became a greater Switzerland
Berlin has turned punching below one’s weight into an art form. This is not good enough, either for Germany or for Europe
Brexit Weltschmerz: An era ends
Britain helped bring modern, unified, and peaceful Germany into being. Its Brexit convulsions have trashed this historic reputation – probably for good.
At a snail’s pace: German inactivity becomes a climate burden on Europe
One week after climate talks at UNGA and the unveiling of the government’s new climate plan, Germany’s gap between lofty goals and actual initiatives is still striking
Trick or treat? French and German views on ‘Brextension’
The heads of ECFR’s offices in Paris and Berlin share the thinking in their countries about the latest round in the Brexit saga
Trick or treat? French and German views on ‘Brextension’
The heads of ECFR’s offices in Paris and Berlin share the thinking in their countries about the latest round in the Brexit saga
Spitzenkandidaten poker
For most voters, the battle over people and positions would be revealing if only it wasn’t so confusing. It is misleading to frame the nomination process as an example of backroom politics prevailing over parliamentary democracy
Germany and the crisis of Atlanticism
With the US opting out of its traditional European role, the “German question” has returned. And European leaders will need to make sacrifices if they are to address it
Cohesion or disintegration? Germany’s European election campaign
“Zusammenhalt” is a buzzword in the European election manifestos of the German parties. But what does it exactly mean in the political discourse?
Dutch courage: Is the Netherlands overconfident in its EU influence?
The Hague will need new allies in a post-Brexit EU. ECFR’s EU Coalition Explorer reveals where it should start looking
Specials
EU Cohesion Monitor 2019
European cohesion is bouncing back after crisis years. The EU Cohesion Monitor presents new insights on cohesion as an underestimated source of strength and collective action in the EU
Podcasts
A world without Angela Merkel
What does Angela Merkel’s decision to stand down as leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) mean for Germany and Europe? Mark Leonard discusses with…
ECFR Berlin: Kooperation und Konflikt in der EU
Eine Podiumsdiskussion mit Anne-Marie Descôtes, Botschafterin der Französischen Republik in Deutschland Michael Roth, Staatsminister für Europa, Auswärtiges Amt Moderation: Lykke Friis, Korrespondentin…
Close Contact? Coalition Building in the EU
ECFR’s EU28 Survey reveals the interactions, perceptions, and chemistry between the 28 EU member states. This week, Mark Leonard joins Josef Janning, Christoph Klavehn and…
German government crisis
Mark Leonard speaks with Josef Janning, Silvia Francescon, Piotr Buras and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil about the major rift between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her interior…
Merkel’s troubles: An opportunity for Europe?
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard discusses the consequences of the German political crisis for Germany and for Europe with ECFR's Berlin office director, Josef Janning, and…
Macron’s speech: rebuilding the European Union
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard talks with the heads of ECFR's Paris and Berlin offices, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil and Josef Janning about Macron's speech and his…
Europe in the German Elections
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard talks with the head of ECFR’s Berlin Office Josef Janning and ECFR's policy fellow Ulrike Franke about the upcoming federal elections…
European Reactions to Macron’s Victory
This week, rather than putting out our ordinary podcast, we're leaving the floor to Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, head of ECFR Paris, who's hosting a discussion…
Views from the Capitals on the French election
Nouveau podcast de notre série sur l'élection présidentielle de 2017 ayant pour objectif de traiter les thèmes d'actualité et de contribuer au débat…
ECFR’s World in 30 Minutes: Towards a German nuclear option?
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard speaks with Christine Ockrent, journalist, Jana Puglierin, head of the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies, and Josef Janning,…
In the media
Tagesspiegel lists ECFR analyses on the Sahel region and Libya.
Josef Janning quoted on Germany's position in the Normandy talks.
Josef Janning quoted on the future of the Grand Coalition in Germany
Josef Janning in an interview on the expectations for the new EU Commission.
Josef Janning in an interview about Germany's role in Europe and a common EU security policy