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Juncker hopes for a “clear pro-Europe course” from Germany

by AI | 22.Nov 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Not only in Germany is the next federal election eagerly anticipated. The election is also important for Europe, says former President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.

Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, speaks during an interview in his office in Luxembourg. Photo: Harald Tittel/dpa +++ dpa-radio picture +++

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Luxembourg – The former EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker hopes that the future German federal government will return to a clearly pro-European course. “It is to be hoped that the new German federal government, when it is in office, will steer a clear pro-Europe course,” Juncker told the German Press Agency. He also hoped that the German-French relationship, which is important for Europe, “will move in a better direction in the first half of 2025”.

“It had become accustomed to Germany being counted among the pro-European forces without nuances,” Juncker said. “That is no longer the case.” In recent years, the German position on certain issues could often no longer be clearly recognized. The federal government always abstained when the coalition partners could not agree on a position. “There has been an enormous amount of German abstentions. But abstention is not a stance.” 

More joint action

Juncker added: “And it makes me unhappy that a major country – Germany is always the largest country – sometimes is unable to speak in Brussels. That is not a good condition and also not conducive to the respectability and authority of the German expression of opinion.”

Also in France, due to the lack of a government majority, “the active ability to govern must be marked with a question mark”: “Which is not good, because more joint action by the Germans and the French is needed in Europe to put an end to the standstill that exists in some parts of Europe.” 

The German response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposals for more joint action was “rather reserved to meager.” That was not good for Europe either. “Therefore, it is desirable that the German-French relationship will also improve when a new German federal government is in office.” This has nothing to do with party affiliations: “It is enough for me if the next German Chancellor steers a pro-European course.” (November 21)

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