About: Angela Merkel
Merkel asks EU Parliament for ‘willingness to compromise’ ahead of mini-summit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to take part in a "mini-summit" with the leaders of the EU institutions in Brussels on Wednesday evening (8 July). It is her first trip abroad since the coronavirus crisis started, testifying to how seriously she is taking her second and last German presidency of the EU Council. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Merkel and von der Leyen: Two long-time companions guiding Europe
They have ruled Germany together for 15 years. Now they are at Europe's helm. With the start of the German EU Presidency, Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have, together, forged plans to navigate Europe out of crisis, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Tweets of the Week: Queen Merkel, Brexit Extension, Parliament Robberies
Angela Merkel is hailed as a wonder, the world stays alert for the next Brexit blunder, and burglars in Parliament make off with MEP plunder
Merkel kicks off EU presidency with Brexit warning
The European Union must prepare for the possibility that talks with Britain on their post-Brexit relationship could fail, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Wednesday (1 July) as Germany took the helm of the bloc's rotating presidency.
Merkel’s legacy at stake as Germany takes EU reins
Germany takes over the European Union's six-month presidency Wednesday (1 July), with outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel staking her legacy on a massive economic recovery plan to help the bloc cope with the coronavirus fallout.
Germany’s ‘crisis’ EU Presidency explained
Germany takes over the rotating six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July. This responsibility comes at a time when the EU is facing unprecedented challenges and expectations of Germany's leadership and diplomatic skills are higher than ever.
Merkel and Macron show unity ahead of all-important EU summit
In a show of unity, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Monday (29 June) and reaffirmed their commitment to the EU Recovery Fund, voicing hope that EU leaders would overcome their current differences. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Merkel on EU Recovery Fund: ‘The bridges we have to build are large’
The European Council summit ended on Friday (19 June) without agreement on the EU recovery fund. However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that she wants to act quickly, and the next round of negotiations is scheduled for mid-July. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Merkel presents plans for EU Council Presidency in the Bundestag
In her Bundestag speech on Thursday (18 June), Merkel presented her plans for the Presidency of the EU Council. Once again, Berlin is facing a crisis and must find a balance between decisiveness and tact. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Europe demands better pandemic plan while worldwide toll passes 400,000
France and Germany on Tuesday (9 June) urged the European Union to better prepare for the next pandemic after chaotic responses to the coronavirus, as worldwide, COVID-19 deaths have passed 407,000, with more than seven million infections.
Strong public support for CDU/CSU, but questions remain on Merkel’s successor
Around three months after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Germany, public approval of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and confidence in Chancellor Angela Merkel remain high. Nevertheless, Merkel is still ruling out a fifth term in office. So how does it look for her potential successors? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Lack of rule of law threatens Bulgaria’s economic recovery
According to the World Bank, it turns out to be easier to do business in post-Soviet Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia than in EU member Bulgaria, writes Joël Ruet. Joël Ruet is the chairman of The Bridge Tank As...
Germany’s ruling parties agree on €130bn virus stimulus
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition on Wednesday (3 June) agreed a bumper stimulus package to speed up Germany’s recovery from the coronavirus. It includes a reduced VAT rate and beefed-up electric vehicle purchase premiums.
EU must play global role in virus crisis, says Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday (27 May) said the European Union should take more global responsibility in the coronavirus crisis, especially as ties with the United States were currently "difficult".
All eyes on Germany’s ‘crisis’ presidency, expected to lead EU recovery
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has forced Germany to radically revise the priorities for its EU Council Presidency in the second half of the year. One thing is clear: the biggest EU country takes the helm in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, at a crucial time for the bloc's recovery efforts. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Taming the ‘Frugal Four’: the challenge facing the German Presidency
The European Commission has presented its proposal for a recovery fund as part of the draft EU budget. Now the member states must be convinced, a task that will fall on Berlin when Germany takes over the EU Council Presidency in July, EURACTIV Germany reports.
German states claim sole responsibility for coronavirus regulation, sidelining federal government
At the weekend, the leader of Thuringia announced plans to end coronavirus restrictions in the eastern German state and replace them with local measures. Saxony voiced its support for the idea, while other states quickly condemned the move, possibly heralding the end the country's relatively harmonious federal coronavirus cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
2020 will go down in history as the EU’s turning point thanks to COVID-19
In the two months since mid-March, the European Union has seen a change of course that was unthinkable at the start of the year. Entrenched taboos are falling away, and things that had been awaited for more than 20 years are happening within days and weeks. We must not waste this historic moment, writes Luca Jahier.
Future of Europe Conference: Part of Germany’s EU Presidency agenda?
This year's Europe Day should have been the starting point for the conference on the Future of Europe, but the coronavirus pandemic has put the project on the backburner. Could Germany's EU Presidency give new impetus to the initiative? EURACTIV Germany reports.
‘Frugal Four’ present counter-plan to Macron-Merkel EU recovery scheme
The "Frugal Four" (Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden) presented their own draft for an EU recovery fund in a 'non-paper' sent to the EU capitals on Saturday (23 May). The most important point: aid money must be repaid. EURACTIV Germany reports.
WHO reports record virus cases as Trump mulls in-person G7
The World Health Organization has reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases, as US President Donald Trump proposed hosting world leaders for the annual G7 summit as a sign of "normalization."
Poor countries need more than debt suspension, says Merkel
Rich countries should help the world's poorest survive the coronavirus pandemic by keeping up development aid and mulling relief measures that go beyond a moratorium on debt payments, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday (20 May).
Franco-German couple sets eyes on EU health sovereignty
A joint COVID-19 recovery proposal put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday (18 May) calls for a new European approach to health crises, aiming for greater EU sovereignty on medical products and pharmaceuticals.