EM Germany Newsletter November 2024 | Political turbulence and the path to a stronger Europe
Dear readers,
We can look back on a politically turbulent November: nationally, the premature end of the coalition government and the announcement of early elections at the end of February next year caused quite a stir. Internationally, attention was focused on the US elections, the outcome of which will have far-reaching consequences for global politics.
In this context, the agreement on a new European Commission seems almost like an anchor of stability. The agreement between the European People's Party, the Social Democrats and the Liberals in the European Parliament - whether it will prove to be a precursor to a coalition agreement or merely a ‘globule’ - remains to be seen. In terms of content, it offers room for controversial debate, but the mere existence of a common parliamentary guideline and voluntary commitment represents an extraordinary strengthening of European parliamentarianism.
Following the end of the ‘traffic light’ government, Germany is heading towards a landmark federal election that will be decisive in determining how the country will shape its role in Europe in the future. Will Germany remain a driving force for a united Europe after the election with strengthened pro-European forces from our member parties, or will national unilateralism and isolationist tendencies of the Europhobes dominate? The recent state elections in Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony have provided us with a worrying picture: anti-European parties are celebrating successes, while pro-European voices are becoming increasingly muted. These results were not only a reckoning with the traffic light government but also a challenge to all pro-European forces. We will therefore accompany the election campaign in a pro-European manner and advocate for solutions to problems that are not national, but European in scope. Early and reliable European coordination by the federal government is essential to achieving this. The new government needs a European plan again!
The reintroduction of border controls by Germany and the undermining of the Schengen Agreement were a recent example of poor coordination with our European partners, on which we as EBD have clearly positioned ourselves. The uncoordinated announcement of the controls revealed a lack of willingness to cooperate between national and European levels. Some neighbouring countries were faced with unexpected problems; Luxembourg in particular, was confronted with considerable difficulties, as the country relies heavily on daily commuter traffic. It is also in this context that Luxembourg is now chairing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Luxembourg's agenda in the Council of Europe has a clear focus on the defence of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, especially in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, as you can see in our graphic of the month. In order to better achieve these goals in the EU context in the future, the EU member states must assume greater European ownership, for example in the area of aid to Ukraine, without being able to rely on the support of the USA. This foreseeable development highlights the urgent need to reform the EU to enhance its ability to act effectively.
We are therefore very much looking forward to the reform proposals that the Commission intends to present in spring 2025. After all, these are a prerequisite for the enlargement of the EU that everyone wants. Another topic that the parties certainly don't want to discuss with citizens during the election campaign.
Yours,
Bernd Hüttemann
General Secretary of the European Movement Germany e.V.
#EBD Grafik of the month
On November 13th, Luxembourg took over the rotating chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for six months. To highlight the change in chairmanship, this month's #EBDGraphic offers a comprehensive overview of the Council of Europe's role and structure. The Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 46 member states is the Council of Europe's highest decision-making body. Its main objectives are to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It is important for EM Germany to strengthen the democratic DNA of the Council of Europe and to utilize its potential as a workshop for democracy in the context of the EU enlargement processes. | Download
EM Germany News
Shaping a pro-European platform together | It's time for a realignment. Elon Musk's transformation of Twitter into “X” has turned the platform into a propaganda tool, undermining European values. Therefore X is no longer a viable option for our democratic network. Bluesky offers a promising alternative: a platform that enables constructive, democratic exchange and is increasingly becoming a mouthpiece for pro-European voices. Through hashtags like #EUSky and #EurSky, a vibrant network is forming, dedicated to uphold and promote Europe's core values. Looking at the radicalization on X, we invite you to help and redefine democratic discourse on Bluesky - for a safe, democratic and pro-European platform! The starter pack with accounts from our international network is available through this link: EBD Starter Pack
EM Germany Vice-President at “Feminism & Right-Wing Populism” | The growing presence of women at the head of right-wing populist parties and their anti-feminist stance were the focus of the panel discussion “Feminism & Right-Wing Populism”, which took place on October 30th at the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Berlin. As part of the Berlin "EuropaDialog", which was organized by JEF Germany and the European Commission in Germany, EM Germany Vice-President Barbara Lochbihler and political scientist Elisa Gutsche shed light on how this development is jeopardizing progress in EU gender equality policy. A key topic was the urgency of swiftly implementing the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and fully ratifying the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women. | More (in German)
KAS-visit in the EBD office: “Connecting Europe More Effectively – Strengthening the Dialogue Between Brussels and Berlin" | Identifying common interests and tackling challenges in the Bundestag and European Parliament together - these are the aims of the annual event organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation-Europe to ensure smooth cooperation between Brussels and Berlin. As EM Germany Secretary-General Bernd Hüttemann emphasized at the exchange on 5 November, it is now more important than ever to “convey the democratic attitude to the outside world with courage and self-confidence”. | More (in German)
Europe's youth is committed to democracy - Youth Space Conference in the Bundestag | The importance of introducing young people to politics became evident at the action-oriented workshops on the topic of democratic backsliding. Organzied by the German Federal Youth Council and the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in cooperation with the EBD, the event highlighted the important role of including young people in political decision-making processes at this year's “Youth Space Conference” from 13 to 15 November in the German Bundestag. EM Germany President Dr. Anna-Maija Mertens pointed out the urgency of taking action to defend and strengthen our democracy. Young people from 21 European countries were given valuable ideas. In the end, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas welcomed the participants and emphasized her pleasure at the renewed cooperation between the Y-Space conference and the German Bundestag. | More (in German)
EM Germany Secretary-General in Genshagen - German-Polish exchange | Strengthening cooperations between Germany and Poland was the goal of the non-partisan think-tank-tandem in Genshagen. From November 13 to 15, experts from both countries discussed the future of Europe and the consequences of Russia's war of aggression. Marek Prawda, Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, emphasized the relevance of security policy measures to increase commitment to the EU. The German Minister of State for Europe, Dr. Anna Lührmann, spoke about the need to avoid gray areas in security policy. Both also spoke in favor of EU enlargement as a geopolitical necessity. The meeting underlined the importance of an open dialog to tackle European challenges. | More (in German)
Upcoming events
December 3rd, 2024 | On December 3rd at 2:00 PM, the next EM Germany De-Briefing on Competitiveness will take place. Dr. Sonja Eisenberg, Head of Division EB3 (EU Internal Market, SOLVIT Office) at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and Andreas Wecker, Advisor in Division 223 - Research and Innovation in the EU at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, will present the outcomes of the latest Council meeting.
December 4th, 2024 | The next EM Germany EPSCO debriefing will take place on December 4, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Florian Schierle, European Affairs Officer at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and Mark Kamperhoff, Head of the EU Department at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, will present the results of the Council meeting.
December 5th, 2024 | On December 5th at 7:00 PM, an informal roundtable titled "EBD Public Diplomacy Exclusive – Turkey" will take place in Istanbul. Dr. Regine Grienberger, Consul General in Istanbul, Thomas Ossowski, Ambassador of the European Union to Turkey, and many others will participate in this event.
December 06th, 2024 | On December 6th, the EBD Board will hold its first meeting since its election at the 2024 General Assembly at the EBD General Secretariat in Moabit.
December 20th, 2024 | On December 20th at 2:00 PM, the next EBD De-Briefing on the European Council will be held. Christoph Wolfrum, Head of the Europe Department at the Federal Foreign Office, and Dr. Nina Wunderlich, Ministerial Counsellor and Head of Subdivision E B at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, will present the results of the Council meeting.
More information
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