German election 2017
Next German government must not fight for right to pollute
The next German government must embrace EU protections rather than fight for the right to pollute, insists Christian Schaible.
An agenda for Germany’s ecological modernisation
No matter which parties will eventually form a coalition, Germany’s next government will continue with an agenda of ecological modernisation, writes Arne Jungjohann. Based on exploratory coalition talks, he explains how such an agenda could look like.
A coal phase-out in Europe can be planned
Italy just added its name to the list of country’s pledging to phase out coal. A fair energy transition requires significant efforts but there is experience to build on, writes Julian Schwartzkopff.
As obstacles to ‘Jamaica’ keep mounting, Europe needs patience with Berlin
For three weeks, Germany’s politics have been frozen while we awaited the result of regional elections in the northwestern Bundesland Lower-Saxony over the weekend. Angela Merkel may now be wishing politics would remain frozen, writes Olaf Boehnke.
Give the regions more EU power to save the euro and defeat populism
Elections across Europe show Europe's political parties to be increasingly defined by how nationalistic they are. Confronting this and reinstating progressive politics is essential, and can best be done by giving more power to Europe's regions, urges Giles Merritt.
Replacing Juncker: A centre-left struggle
French Commissioner Pierre Moscovici’s name has been linked with the EU executive’s top job once the current president’s mandate ends. If Juncker’s successor is chosen in the same way he got the job, then how good are Moscovici’s chances? Nicholas Whyte explains.
Merkel vs. Trump at Hamburg G20
As world leaders prepare to descend on Hamburg next week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hopes to gain sufficient support to isolate US President Donald Trump on trade and climate change, writes Fraser Cameron.
EU at 60: Common sense will prevail
The recent 60th anniversary celebrations in Rome were justifiably optimistic. The European Union may well have negotiated its rough patch and from here on out it could prove to be smooth sailing, writes Merve Demirel.
Normalising hate politics, a guide by the AfD
Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has risen in popularity but for certain branches of the movement parliamentary politics don’t actually matter, as they want to bring down the establishment, not join it, explains Paul Simon.
Trump will divide Europe
European leaders want to strengthen defence cooperation to prepare for the rest of Trump’s presidency and a weakened NATO. However, the new president will most likely divide Europe, not bring it together, warns Jonas J. Driedger.
The left must carve out its own vision for the digital age
Computers are becoming more powerful every day and are fundamentally changing our societies. We must act now to defend jobs, wages and equality in the dawning digital age, write Gianni Pittella and Sergei Stanishev.
From Brexit to Trump: Transatlantic Allies in an era of unpredictability
Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US President is not just a test for EU leaders and institutions, it’s test of free citizens in free societies, write Geoffrey Harris and Tim Oliver.
Welcome to the Leak-ocracy: Elections decided by Russian hackers and (Wiki)leaks
A new and disturbing factor emerged during this US presidential election, one that may change elections forever: democracies are now at the mercy of hacking and surveillance technologies, and those who control them. Steven Hill warns that Germany could be next.
The (German) politics behind Nord Stream 2
An unlikely coalition is emerging in Germany between Angela Merkel’s CDU and the Greens. More and more, both parties want to stop the construction of a second pipeline that will transport gas directly from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, explains Judy Dempsey.