The EU and the Grosse Koalition: Where to Now, Ms. Merkel?

The German electoral campaign has neglected a number of issues concerning Germany's position on the future architecture of the Eurozone governance, these range from the incomplete path towards a banking union, to a re-launch of German domestic demand, to the rising unemployment differentials increasingly fostering political instability at the periphery of the Eurozone. Will the SPD presence in the government help to re-balance the German current account and restart public investment, removing some of the most savings-enhancing effects of the Hartz package, or has it rather given up on European issues? Will the Grosse Koalition weaken the prospects for a united socialist block in the next European Parliament with reference to sensitive EMU governance issues? Will Germany be more vocal on foreign policy and on growing transatlantic tensions, or confirm a line of strategic dependence vis-à-vis the United States in the name of the TTIP?    

A Citizen’s Controversy with Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the EU Programme of the German Marshal Fund of the United States, and Jo Leinen, Member of the European Parliament.  

The debate will be moderated by Pierre Defraigne, Executive Director, Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation.

The debate will be held in English.

To register, please send your name, title and the name of your organisation to info@madariaga.org or by fax to: +32 (0) 2 209 62 11.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation at: +32 (0) 2 209 62 10.

Participation fee: €10 / Students: €3. Sandwiches and drinks will be provided from 12:30 onwards.

Originally published on the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation website.

Photo by Bundesregierung.

PN member Jo Leinen has been a Member of the European Parliament for the Socialist Group since 1999. He is currently member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and as well as of the Delegation for relations with India. Furthermore, he serves as a substitute member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.