About: Helmut Kohl

Top ten events that marked the current European Parliament

Sexist remarks during a European Parliament session, dogfight in the Parliament's buildings, Jean-Claude Juncker's anger and Mark Zuckerberg's interrogation. EURACTIV’s media partner Euroefe looks back at the ten events that marked the eighth legislative term of the European Parliament.

Europe pays tribute to Helmut Kohl, ‘a giant’ of post-war history

European leaders joined with former US president Bill Clinton at an emotional tribute in Strasbourg on Saturday (1 July) for former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, the father of German reunification and a founder of modern-day Europe. “A giant of the...

Bill Clinton expected to speak at Kohl’s tribute on 1 July

EU leaders and former heads of state from Europe and elsewhere will meet in Strasbourg on 1 July to pay tribute to the late German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, in the European Parliament.

EU planning grand ceremony to honour ‘visionary’ Kohl

The European Commission hopes to organise a grand ceremony to remember former German Chancellor and European "visionary" Helmut Kohl, a Commission spokeswoman said on Sunday (18 June).

Helmut Kohl, father of German reunification, dies

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the architect of German reunification, died on Friday (16 June), the mass-selling newspaper Bild reported. He was 87.

Political consultant: Schulz has fighting chance of winning German election

Martin Schulz has a real chance of becoming Germany's next chancellor, political consultant Michael Spreng told EURACTIV's partner WirtschaftsWoche, as Angela Merkel struggles to inspire her own voters.

Unhappy birthday: EU low-key on Maastricht’s 25th anniversary

A quarter of a century after the summit in the Dutch town of Maastricht that gave birth to the euro, the EU will mark the anniversary today (9 December) with little fanfare as it battles a wave of crises.

Merkel to seek fourth term to defend threatened ‘values’

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said last night (20 November) she would seek a fourth term in a general election next year to defend democratic principles in the face of looming threats at home and abroad.

The Darwinian case for the UK to stay in Europe

A Darwin political struggle is happening behind the scenes in the EU, but if UK were to leave the EU it would put its unity at risk, plunge parliament into legislative chaos and ‘unfriend’ our important friends in Europe, writes William Horsley.

Hollande, Merkel call for European unity at Verdun centenary

French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed yesterday (29 May) for Europe to unite to face its current challenges as they marked the 100th anniversary of Verdun, the longest battle of World War I.

Helmut Kohl: ‘Solution to refugee crisis does not lie in Europe’

In the preface to the Hungarian edition of his book, “Out of concern for Europe”, Helmut Kohl has written that the continent cannot become the new home for millions of people. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

A Franco-German duet in front of a fractious Parliament

Those who wish Europe well will be hoping that Merkel can emulate Kohl’s leadership, and that Hollande can cut a more commanding figure than the wily Mitterrand, writes Andrew Duff.

France and Germany to take front stage at ‘historic times’

Angela Merkel and François Hollande are to make a joint address in the European Parliament, underlining the gravity of crises facing the post-war union founded by Germany and France, officials said yesterday (21 September).

EU summit to recognise Delors as one of Europe’s fathers

EU leaders meeting for a two-day summit today (25 June), dedicated to the divisive immigration issues and the Greek crisis, will bestow the title of "Honorary Citizen of Europe" on Jacques Delors, for extraordinary work to promote European cooperation.

Rolf Nikel: Reconciliation between Germany and Poland has been achieved

The revolutions in Eastern Europe paved the way for the collapse of communism in East Germany, otherwise known as the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik), in 1990. One of the most important government officials in West Germany at the time was Rolf Nikel. Today, he serves as unified Germany's Ambassador to Poland. EURACTIV Poland reports.

Berlin celebrates the night ‘that changed our lives’

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Berlin on Sunday (9 November) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall. Chancellor Angela Merkel said the momentous day had proved that "dreams can come true". EURACTIV Germany reports.

Remembering people, places and myths surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall

25 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, former Austrian correspondent Ewald König returns to the place where Günter Schabowski mistakenly ordered the opening of the Wall, where myths live on and where König met the young Angela Merkel.

Kohl encourages Merkel to pursue EU unity

In a letter congratulating German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her 60th birthday Thursday (17 July), former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl encouraged her to focus on policy that brings Europe closer together, and emphasised the value of partnership with the United States. EURACTIV Germany reports.

In rare appearance, Germany’s Kohl makes plea for European unity

Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who reunified Germany and pushed the country into the euro, urged Europe to press ahead with closer integration despite a crisis of the single currency, saying the continent must never again descend into conflict.

Kohl to Merkel: ‘Time to end the crisis’

In a rare interview, Helmut Kohl, the former German chancellor, slams his protégé Angela Merkel for her handling of the euro crisis and for damaging Germany's leadership in international relations. EURACTIV Germany has the full transcript.

EU negotiator: ‘Main difficulty of German reunification was its speed’

East and West Germany reunified on 3 October 1990, less than a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The historic event was described as an "[EU] enlargement without accession" by EU diplomats. Carlo Trojan, the European Commission's chief negotiator on Germany's reunification, describes the events in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV Germany.