Number of entries: 370 1-50 51-100 101-150  …  351-370 >>

Close cooperation on harnessing alternative energy sources

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The German federal and state governments have agreed to instigate intensive consultation and coordination procedures as Germany moves away from conventional energy sources toward renewables.

At six-monthly meetings, the Chancellor will discuss progress achieved and tasks ahead with the state premiers. The next topic on the agenda will be the expansion of the electricity grid.After a three-hour meeting with state premiers Chancellor Angela Merkel underscored their shared will to make the shift towards renewables work. "We want this to succeed, each of us in our own field of responsibility." That is why there is to be in-depth coordination of the steps ahead.

At top level, coordination will be the responsibility of the Chancellor herself and the state premiers at six-monthly meetings. The process will be taking place within the context of an in-depth exchange between line ministries at federal and state level.

Both federal and state governments also advocate greater European cooperation in the field of energy policy, declared Federal Economics Minister Philipp Rösler. This should embrace civil society, the energy sector and local authorities.

Expanding electricity grids

In June the Chancellor will be discussing energy policy again with the state premiers. The main topic on the agenda will be the first draft of plans to expand the national electricity grid. The plan is to be submitted next week by grid operators to the Federal Network Agency. It will identify the network elements that will have to be built over the next ten years. By the end of the year federal and state governments will consult and coordinate action to be taken on this important energy issue.

"Safe, environmentally sound and affordable"

As well as laying down general procedure, specific duties were also allocated at the meeting. The bottom line is that, "Energy supplies must be safe, environmentally sound and affordable for the people in Germany," stressed the Chancellor.

A wide spectrum of issues were on the agenda; expanding electricity grids, connecting the offshore wind farms up to the national grid, and research into technologies for storing power.

The top-level meeting also discussed how to better dovetail stepping up the role played by renewables with moves to modernise the power grids. Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier announced that he would be bringing this issue to the Renewable Energies Platform.

Agreement to be achieved on the Renewable Energies Law

Since the electricity generated from wind and solar power obviously fluctuates, power stations must be in place to make good any shortfalls. The federal government will be drawing up a proposal as to how to put in place “capacity markets” of this sort.

The representatives of federal and state governments also agreed to set up a working group to rework the Renewable Energy Bill rejected by the second chamber of the German parliament, the Bundesrat. The aim is to achieve an agreement through mediation before the summer break.

Security must be assured in future too

Consolidation and economic growth

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Global economic development was the focus of the G8 summit in Camp David. Consolidation and economic growth are two sides of the same coin, stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel. Other important points on the agenda included the situation in Syria and Iran.

In the wake of the major international financial and economic crisis there are signs that the global economy is recovering. All summit participants agreed on this point, reported the Chancellor. There are still a number of difficulties though. "We need both to consolidate our budgets and to make every effort to foster growth," Angela Merkel summed up. "Sound finances and growth go hand in hand."

Generating growth

The crucial question is how to generate growth, the Chancellor underscored. Three ingredients are vital: budget consolidation, structural reforms and investment in the future. We must invest in research, in viable infrastructure for the future, and in the completion of the European single market, she explained – not in conventional economic recovery programmes.

Participants agreed that Greece should remain in the euro zone, but equally that the Greeks must honour all commitments made, reported the Chancellor.

A call for an end to violence in Syria

In the Camp David Declaration, the G8 called for an end to violence and for a process of political transition in Syria. The six-point plan of Kofi Annan must be implemented, said Angela Merkel. Violence must be ended and human life protected in Syria.

Iran was also urged to provide information on its nuclear programme. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that there was a large measure of agreement on continuing with a combination of offering Iran negotiations while leaving in place tough sanctions.

Civil reconstruction in Afghanistan

The heads of state and government also provided assurances that they would forge ahead with civil reconstruction in Afghanistan. The G8 states together provide about 80 percent of all civilian assistance for Afghanistan. 

Further support for democratisation

Another important issue at the G8 summit was efforts to further support the transition process in North African and Middle Eastern states. They renewed their commitment to the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition launched at last year’s G8 summit. The partnership has since been expanded to embrace Libya and to include several new instruments.

Another important component is the extension of the mandate of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It is to be given the opportunity to provide support during the transition process in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean states. 

The Deauville Partnership is a G8 initiative to support the process of democratisation and economic development in North African and Arab states. It was launched at the end of May 2011. The aim is to support change, and in particular democratisation processes and economic development in North African and Arab states. Alongside economic development one main thrust is to combat youth unemployment. 

A focus on Africa

Partnership with Africa is a tradition for the G8. This year they concentrated on food security. The new alliance with six sub-Saharan states initiated by the USA was launched by an agreement. "We must not falter in our efforts, and we shall not do so," declared the Chancellor with a view to the African continent.

Better conditions are to be put in place for help towards self-help through private investment. Small farmers, for instance, are to be given access to markets and to technology that will help them improve cropping and food storage techniques. Angela Merkel spoke of the shared goal of the G8 states of helping 50 million Africans escape poverty over the next ten years. 

German government would like to see binding climate agreement

At Camp David participants also discussed stepping up international efforts in the field of climate change mitigation. A new and binding UN climate agreement remains the clear objective of the German government. The international community will have to do significantly more if global warming is to be kept down to a rise of two degrees Celsius over the pre-industrial period.

The G8 states affirmed their committment to clean, safe, affordable energy policy, although the energy mix in the different G8 states currently varies enormously. In this context the summit discussed the impact of stepping up the use of renewables on the infrastructure of the states concerned, as well as the issue of energy efficiency.  

The Group of Eight (G8) is an informal forum of heads of state and government of eight industrialised countries. It is not an international organisation. It has neither its own administrative structures nor any permanent representations of member states. Because of these informal structures, the G8 presidency is always extremely important. The country holding the presidency is responsible for organising the summit meeting and setting the agenda. This year the USA hold the G8 presidency. The member states of the G8 are Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States of America, Canada (since 1976) and Russia (since 1998). The European Union is also represented at all meetings. In 2013 the G8 presidency will pass to the United Kingdom.

A symbol of the importance of Franco-German relations

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On the very day he took office, France’s new President François Hollande visited Berlin. He was in full agreement with Chancellor Angela Merkel that Franco-German cooperation remains crucially important for the future of Europe.

"We are delighted that François Hollande has come to Germany on the day of his appointment," declared the Chancellor. It was not only an opportunity for the two leaders to become acquainted. They also discussed key items on the European and international agenda.

The focus was on developments in the euro zone in general and in Greece in particular, but they also took time to touch on the future of Franco-German relations, almost fifty years after the Elysée Treaty was signed.

Germany and France – relations for the 21^st century

The Chancellor reported that they agreed that it would be appropriate to make use of the coming anniversary of the signing of the Elysée Treaty to further develop Franco-German relations for the 21^st century. Angela Merkel invited François Hollande to an anniversary council of ministers to be held in Berlin in January 2013. The two parliaments too will mark the anniversary with special celebrations.

The Elysée Treaty on Franco-German cooperation was signed on 22 January 1963. It sealed the reconciliation of the French and German peoples and became a cornerstone of further European integration. In a brief joint declaration the then Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French President Charles de Gaulle stated that the objectives of the treaty were to symbolically seal Franco-German reconciliation, to found a genuine friendship between the two peoples, especially among the younger generation, and to promote the establishment of a "united Europe …, which is the goal of both our peoples". Today the treaty is still the basis on which France and Germany build their unique bilateral cooperation.

Before then though, there is a lot of work to be done, "We are well aware of our responsibility for the positive development of Europe," declared Angela Merkel. The two leaders have agreed to cooperate closely in the weeks and months to come on preparing decisions to be taken at European level.

Measures to strengthen growth on the agenda

The Chancellor pointed to the fiscal pact signed in March. It is to help put in place sound budgets in Europe. For some months now measures to boost growth in Europe have also been discussed. It is important that all sides have the opportunity to present their proposals.

The French President left no doubt that he believes it very important that all possible options for fostering growth in Europe are discussed at the next two meetings of the European Council on 23 May and 28 June. He agreed with the Chancellor that more than lip service to growth is needed – the people must feel the difference.

Greece should remain in the euro zone

"We would like to see Greece remain in the euro zone". This was the unambiguous opinion of both sides in view of the announcement that new elections are to be held in Greece after the country’s failure to form a government. The Chancellor pointed out that she has always assured her Greek opposite numbers of support in their efforts to master the crisis. The Greeks must, however, meet their commitments. They will also be voting on the agreed memorandum.

Angela Merkel and François Hollande stressed that they respect the Greek decision to hold new elections, and that they hope that the outcome will be a reaffirmation of commitment to the euro. François Hollande suggested that additional pro-growth measures be undertaken to support developments. The Chancellor agreed that additional options for fostering growth should be explored.

Cooperation for the good of Europe

Angela Merkel and François Hollande were relaxed in the face of questions about possible differences in their political convictions. Both pointed out that Franco-German relations over the decades have often been marked by political differences, but have nevertheless always been constructive, and that the two countries have always cooperated for the good of Europe.

The common currency in particular has spawned a sort of European domestic policy, underscored the Chancellor. The fact that leaders come from different parts of the political spectrum does not mean that they cannot work well together and identify good solutions. This is the experience we have gained in Europe.

François Hollande declared that his visit was intended to underline the fact that he sees the concept of friendship between the French and the Germans as a great responsibility to respect both one another and partners. Franco-German relations are a constant for every French president, he added.

The Chancellor too stressed the importance of cooperation. There will be common ground, but equally there will be differences. The two sides will discuss their different ideas, she said. This can be a great enrichment. “I am very much looking forward to our cooperation,” declared the Chancellor.

One international commitment follows another over the next few weeks. The Chancellor and the new French President will be seeing one another again this week at the G8 summit meeting in Camp David and at the NATO summit in Chicago. On 23 May at the informal European Council summit the first discussions at European level will take place. This will be followed at the end of June by the regular meeting of the European Council. In between times the G20 will be meeting on 18 and 19 June in Mexico.

"Europe is my home"

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The Chancellor and the government spokesman have been discussing the idea of Europe with young people to bring them closer to the European philosophy. On the EU Project Day they visited schools to talk to pupils. An enthusiastic crowd welcomed Merkel when she popped in to the Friedensburg Upper School in Berlin.

An excited crowd filled the sunny courtyard of the Friedensburg Upper School in Berlin Charlottenburg. The school band, with its brass section, string instruments, drummer and electric guitars was busy rehearsing the number they planned to play to welcome the Chancellor. Camera phones were out and ready to capture the moment. Pupils of all ages had gathered to give Angela Merkel an enthusiastic welcome. She exchanged a few words with the musicians before entering the large hall, where the discussion was to be held.

Pupils from around the world

The young people showed Angela Merkel a very special sort of world map – they had used coloured dots to indicate the birth places of their parents. And they practically spanned the globe – Central and Southern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, the Maghreb, South Africa, North and South America. There were even coloured dots in New Zealand and the Far East. It was immediately clear that the Friedensburg Upper School – a European school – serves an international community. The school’s focus on Spanish means that individual subjects are taught and examined entirely in Spanish.

"Europe is my home "

As soon as she entered the school, the Chancellor affirmed her commitment to Europe. When asked where she comes from and where she feels at home, the Chancellor declared, "Europe is my home". For her Germany and Europe are practically one entity.

Focus on education, migration and right-wing populism

During the panel discussion the pupils each talked about one focal issue:

• Education prospects
• Migration and asylum
• Right-wing populism.

Education is clearly an issue that concerns the pupils – studying abroad, the Bologna process with its standardised academic qualifications and the recognition of foreign qualifications. One of the young people was very much interested in asylum and migration, and asked some pointed questions. Why is there no shared policy on asylum and migration? Is immigration not a solution to the problems of an aging society facing Germany? Another pupil established a link between budding right-wing populism and the sovereign debt crisis, and asked what can be done to counter this trend.

An attentive audience

The Chancellor saw the fact that so many young people today study abroad and benefit from Europe-wide programmes like the EU’s Erasmus programme as progress. She is working to ensure across-the-board recognition of semesters spent studying abroad at foreign institutes of learning and of foreign qualifications.

On the issue of migration, she stressed that Germany does need immigration, but that it is important not to give the wrong incentives! In many cases it is more important to provide assistance for the home countries of migrants. We should be helping put in place an environment that will allow people to become actively involved in developing their own countries. She called for consistent cost-cutting, but advocated continued assistance for Greece – at least for as long as Greece keeps to the terms of the agreements reached.

Growth is also important of course, she said. But experience to date has always shown any attempt to generate growth with borrowed money to be the wrong way. Right-wing populism, underlined the Chancellor, is not the consequence of any sort of austerity Diktat. It comes from over-simplification, but it does of course give grounds for concern.

Islam too was an issue discussed. Angela Merkel pointed out that all of us in Germany are more influenced by Islam than we might care to believe. She pointed to fields like mathematics and medicine, in which the Islamic nations led the world for centuries, and from whose achievements Germany naturally benefits. And she pointed out that it is no longer possible to clearly distinguish between "migrants" and "Germans" certainly in the second and third generation. "When does a migrant become a German?" she asked back.

In a closing address the Chancellor praised the pupils for preparing themselves so thoroughly. She was delighted that the discussion had thrown up so many opinions and did not miss the opportunity to point out that this would not have been possible when she was at school.

The government spokesman also met with young people

It was not only the Chancellor who was involved in the EU Project Day. Many other participants, including Cabinet ministers were involved in discussions with school pupils. In the early morning government spokesman Steffen Seibert met the pupils at a school for automotive technology in Berlin. The questions in the assembly hall came fast and furious – Greece, the debt crisis, youth unemployment, Turkish accession to the EU ... The young people were interested and well prepared – as was Steffen Seibert, who was happy to answer every question.

This was the sixth time that German schools have organised the EU Project Day at schools. It was initially launched by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 to mark Germany’s EU Presidency. This year more than 300 representatives of German politics were involved in almost 400 discussions.

Debt reduction, growth and shared values

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All efforts to overcome the crisis in Europe must build on debt reduction and growth, underscored the Chancellor in a government statement in the run-up to the G8 summit. Looking ahead to the NATO summit meeting she summed up the results of the engagement of Germany and its partners in Afghanistan.

The G8 summit will concentrate on trends in the global economy, with a special focus on the situation in the euro zone. The heads of state and government will also be looking at food security in Africa among other issues. The summit is to be held on 18 and 19 May in Camp David, in the USA.

The Chancellor and her European opposite numbers will be reporting on the reforms undertaken to master the euro crisis.

The strategy of the euro-zone states, the Chancellor declared, builds on debt reduction and growth. The EU is thus not only working assiduously to consolidate national budgets, which is the precondition for stable growth. Special measures designed to foster growth and create jobs are also crucially important. At Camp David the Chancellor will also be advocating a reaffirmation of the G8’s commitment to free trade.

"Growth through structural reforms makes sense. It is important, it is vital. Borrowing money to finance growth measures on the other hand would throw us right back to the beginning of the crisis. That is why we must not resort to this, and we will not resort to it," said the Chancellor.

For a binding climate change mitigation agreement

Climate change mitigation and energy supplies are also on the summit agenda. The German government will be calling for a new and binding UN climate change mitigation agreement, underlined the Chancellor.

Help towards self-help in Africa

"Reducing debt, strengthening competitiveness, generating growth and employment, fighting hunger in the world and protecting the global climate – all these issues demonstrate what globalisation is really about in the 21^st century," declared Angela Merkel. No country in the world can tackle the major challenges of our time on its own.

Partnership with Africa is a G8 tradition. This year there will be a focus on the financial commitments of the G8 states with a view to achieving food security. The USA is planning a "new alliance" with six sub-Saharan African states. "We must not, under any circumstances scale back our engagement, and we will not be doing so," said Angela Merkel referring in particular to the African continent. The prevailing environment for help towards self-help is to be improved with the help of private-sector investment.

The Group of Eight (G8) is an informal forum of heads of state and government of eight industrialised countries. It is not an international organisation. It has neither its own administrative structures nor any permanent representations of member states. Because of these informal structures, the G8 presidency is always extremely important. The country holding the presidency is responsible for organising the summit meeting and setting the agenda. This year the USA hold the G8 presidency. The member states of the G8 are Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States of America, Canada (since 1976) and Russia (since 1998). The European Union is also represented at all meetings.

NATO summit meeting in Chicago

Following the G8 summit, Angela Merkel will be attending the NATO summit meeting in Chicago on 20 and 21 May. The main points on the agenda will be NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan, and the military capabilities and partnerships of the alliance.

Summing up the results of engagement in Afghanistan

"We came in together and we will be leaving together," declared Angela Merkel reaffirming the plan for a joint withdrawal of the ISAF troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. This was agreed at the last summit meeting in Lisbon in 2010. "The Taliban have been weakened, and we can see the number of attacks dropping, " said the Chancellor. The ranks of the Afghan security forces will swell this year to a total of 352,000 soldiers and police officers. The quality of the security forces has improved palpably, she stated. Their response to the most recent attacks in Kabul is ample proof of this.

The process of handing over responsibility for security from NATO to Afghanistan by the end of 2014 is proceeding apace. About half of the Afghan people live in areas already controlled by Afghan forces, she said. The role of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is shifting increasingly away from an operational role to a support role.

After 2015 the focus will be on training and advising Afghan security forces. Germany is also prepared to provide financial assistance. The long-term support of the international community for Afghanistan was agreed at the Bonn conference held in November 2011. In return Afghanistan is expected to make the efforts required. This will include improving governance and making every effort to stamp out corruption.

A special thanks

The Chancellor expressed her special thanks to all soldiers, police officers and civilian helpers. Under extremely difficult conditions, and often at great personal risk, they are making a valuable contribution to stabilising and developing Afghanistan.

The summit meeting will begin in the afternoon on 20 May with a meeting of the North Atlantic Council. The 28 heads of state and government will discuss how to ensure security in future in view of existing financial constraints. In the evening the focus will be on NATO’s continued engagement in Afghanistan post-2014. The agenda also includes a discussion of the future of the alliance itself, under the motto NATO 2020. The second day of the summit will kick off with a meeting of the states that have provided troop contingents for Afghanistan. A total of 57 nations will be represented, as well as the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank. The summit will conclude with a meeting with 13 selected partners in order to discuss joint security challenges.

Missile defence system not targeted against Russia

At the summit meeting in Chicago the alliance will declare the first stage of its missile defence system to be in place. The missile defence shield is to be extended gradually until 2020. Once complete it should provide the entire NATO territory with protection against ballistic missiles. Germany has offered to contribute the mobile Patriot system of the Federal Armed Forces said the Chancellor.

Tackling Somali Piracy on the Coast

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Germany’s is to see its role in the Atalanta anti-piracy mission expanded. In future German troops are to be mandated to target the on-shore logistics of pirates up to two kilometres inland from the Somali coastline. The German Bundestag has approved the government motion.

Speaking in the German Bundestag, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that pirates are still a threat to international aid destined for Somalia. He thus sees combating piracy as a humanitarian obligation.

The mandate for the Atalanta mission was extended until 31 May 2013. The current ceiling on troops is to remain unchanged at 1,400. The mission area will now also comprise the Somali coast and internal coastal waters. This will allow soldiers to destroy pirates’ logistical infrastructure on the beach.

The current mandate runs until 18 December 2012. At present, approximately 340 soldiers are deployed. The combat support warship "Berlin" has two helicopters equipped with heavy machine guns and a maritime patrol aircraft on its board.

Extension of the operation on land

German armed forces will be allowed to conduct air strikes against the pirates' logistics on the immediate shore. This includes boats, stocks of weapons and other equipment used by pirates for their attacks. The strikes are permitted up to a limit of 2,000 metres inland of the coast.

German soldiers will not be deployed on the ground.  No German soldier, and no Atalanta soldier will put a foot on Somali soil, stressed Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today in the German Bundestag. This does not apply, of course, if they are required to provide emergency assistance on land.

Destroying the pirates' infrastructure on shore represents an expansion of the mission. Such operations have been going on at sea for some time. Now, the pirates' infrastructure will also be destroyed on land, when the opportunity arises.

This should further limit the pirates' ability to act. This is also meant to prevent the pirates from reaching open sea with their equipment, since that makes it necessary to search a sea area 24 times the size of Germany.

On 20 February 2012, the High Representative of the EU offered Somalia's transitional government operation Atalanta's support to tackle pirates’ logistics in the country's coastal region and internal coastal waters. Somalia's transitional government accepted the EU's offer of support. The Secretary-General of the United Nations was informed of this in a letter dated 1 March 2012.

The aim is to enforce international law

The EU's Atalanta operation will continue to combat and deter piracy off the Horn of Africa. This is the only way to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches needy Somalis. The operation also aims to help ensure the safe passage of civilian shipping along the region's trade routes and to avoid hostage-taking and ransom demands.

The mission also protects supplies coming in by sea for AMISOM, the African Union Mission to Somalia, which was mandated by the United Nations and is supported by the EU. This is an important contribution to stabilising Somalia, which in turns makes it possible to tackle the root causes of piracy.

 

Atalanta – a successful operation

Since the beginning of the operation, more than 130 ships supplying food aid on behalf of the World Food Programme have safely reached their destinations in Somalia. Together they have brought in more than 850,000 tonnes of food and other important aid supplies, which have gone a long way to ensuring the survival of up to four million people in desperate need of humanitarian support. Many Somali lives have thus been saved.

The EU-led operation Atalanta has also helped underpin the success of the fight against piracy. The pirates' success rates fell markedly in 2011. The continuous presence of war vessels since 2008 has made the waters of the Gulf of Aden safer for merchant ships.

Rebuilding Somalia

It is not enough just to fight piracy though. In the long term, Somalia must become a functional state once more. State structures are being rebuilt with the help of the international community. The primary focus is on stable security structures.

Here, too, Germany is making an important contribution. German soldiers are also involved in the EU-led training mission EUTM Somalia. So far, approximately 1,800 Somali transitional government soldiers have been trained in Uganda. This figure should reach 3,000 - or about 20% of the transitional government's armed forces - by December 2012.

Troops still needed in Kosovo

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In Kosovo, German troops will continue to ensure security. The ceiling on troops deployed in Kosovo is to remain at 1,850. An additional German-Austrian reserve battalion is to be reactivated to keep the elections peaceful.

The German government has agreed to extend Germany’s involvement in the Kosovo mission. This decision must still be approved by the German Bundestag.

Since 1999 a total of almost 100,000 German soldiers have helped ensure lasting peace in Kosovo. They have all made a valuable contribution to the country’s positive development. 

Ensuring peaceful Serbian elections in May

The situation in the north of the country remains unsettled, however. In the run up to Serbia’s elections, scheduled to be held on 6 and 20 May 2012 there is a risk that new unrest might erupt. To counteract this, the German-Austrian battalion of the Operational Reserve Force (ORF) was reactivated on 20 April 2012 in addition to the KFOR contingent. The battalion has been in Kosovo and ready for action since 1 May. 

ORF battalions are provided jointly by Germany, Austria and Italy. They support KFOR troops in Kosovo. The German-Austrian battalion consists of about 700 soldiers, 500 of them German. The ORF battalions were deployed in Kosovo last year. On 1 April, though, they were replaced by an Italian reserve battalion. Because of the need to ensure peaceful elections they have now been reactivated.

KFOR for security

The situation in Kosovo is largely peaceful and stable, but the risk of escalation remains real. This is particularly true in the north of the country, where the majority of the population are Kosovo Serbs. At the end of July 2011 this became all too clear at the border crossing points, where violent clashes erupted. The KFOR troops were forced to intervene quickly to prevent the situation escalating further.

A total of 29 nations have provided troops for the KFOR mission. The German contingent is the largest. Currently, about 1,200 German soldiers are deployed, plus the reserve force. All in all some 6,200 soldiers are deployed in Kosovo. The German Major General Erhard Drews is commanding officer of KFOR.

The international KFOR force is still needed to maintain security and stability in the country. This will continue to be the case until Kosovo’s own security forces are in a position to ensure the security of all population groups to the same extent.

Training Kosovo’s own security forces

Work on building the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is continuing successfully. The multi-ethnic professional security force is to comprise a maximum of 2,500 officers plus 800 reservists.

The security forces are called on to respond to crises and to clear ordnance as well as protecting the civilian population. Germany has offered the KSF extensive military training support in Germany. German soldiers are also working inside Kosovo to train officers and advise on how best to build security structures.

EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (Eulex)

Kosovo’s police force has repeatedly proved its willingness and ability to take action. It is also receiving support from the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or Eulex, and is to ensure the security of all ethnic groups living in Kosovo.

Eulex Kosovo is operating increasingly efficiently nationwide. The determination of Eulex is, however, put to the test time and again in the north of the country in particular. Close cooperation between KFOR and Eulex has proved its worth in ensuring a stable security situation.

The German federal and state level police together provide the German contingent of police officers for Eulex. Currently about 125 German experts are working for Eulex, about 80 of them police officers.

Information on Eulex published by the EU

Legal basis

Since 1999 the German Bundestag has voted twelve times to extend Germany’s involvement in KFOR, most recently on 9 June 2011. German soldiers are assigned to KFOR on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

Immigration to be made easier for highly-skilled migrants

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The new EU Blue Card is designed to make it easier for highly-skilled citizens of non-EU member states to live and work in the EU, and thus in Germany. Germany hopes to attract more highly-skilled migrants.

The German Bundestag has passed a bill that will put into practice the EU’s Blue Card Directive (or Directive for Highly Skilled Migrants).

The EU Directive, which dates back to May 2009, lays down the terms and conditions on which citizens of non-EU member states are entitled to enter and reside in the EU in order to exercise a highly skilled occupation. The new German legislation uses the scope provided for in this directive to make Germany more attractive to this group of migrants.

Good for Germany

The new law will translate into practice the provisions of the EU’s Blue Card Directive. It will also serve to make Germany more attractive to migrants, thus making it easier for highly-skilled workers to live and work in Germany in the longer term.

The legal conditions for foreign students who would like to work in Germany after obtaining a degree from a German university are also to be improved. Dedicated and highly skilled workers are, after all, the foundation on which Germany can build prosperity and growth.

Making Germany more attractive to migrants

The salient points of the new law are as follows:

• A new residence permit is to be introduced – the EU Blue Card.
  
• To obtain a Blue Card, migrants will have to have a university or college degree and a contract of employment worth a gross annual salary of at least 44,800 euros.
  
• In future there are to be no priority reviews (see box below for explanation) or reviews of comparable working conditions (see box below for explanation), which will facilitate immigration and speed up the process significantly.
  
• For highly-skilled workers in occupations currently suffering from shortages of skilled labour, the required salary level will be lowered to 34,944 euros. This will apply in particular to engineers, degree holders in the field of information and communications technology and experts with comparable qualifications in this field, and medical doctors.
  
• The priority review is to be dispensed with here too, but working conditions will be reviewed for comparability.
  
• Blue Card holders will be issued with a settlement permit after three years, provided they are still employed. If a Blue Card holder can provide evidence of B1 level German language skills, the settlement permit may be issued after two years.

Easing other restrictions

As well as merely translating into practice the EU Directive, other restrictions are to be eased.

Special mention should be made of the following:

• University graduates shall be entitled a residence permit for six months provided they can secure their livelihood during that period.
  
• Students at German universities will in future be permitted to work for 120 full days or 240 half days alongside their course of study. Until now they have only been permitted to work 90 full days of 180 half days.
  
• Graduates of German universities will in future have 18 months rather than only 12 months to find a job that corresponds to their academic qualifications. Graduates of vocational training facilities will have one year to find a job commensurate with their qualifications. Both groups will be permitted to work without restriction during this period.

The bill was introduced by the German government in December 2011. It must still be passed by the second chamber of the German parliament, the Bundesrat.

Priority review
A citizen of a non-EU member state may only be employed if no suitably qualified German applicant is available, and if no suitably qualified non-German applicant is available, who enjoys the same rights as German applicants under German labour law, and if no other suitably qualified non-German applicant is available who is entitled to priority access to the labour market under the laws of the European Union.

Review of the comparability of working conditions
A non-German citizen may not be employed under worse working conditions than any comparable German employee.
(Paragraph 39 of the Law on the Residence, Employment and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Republic of Germany)

Tackling Somali Piracy on the Coast

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German participation in the Atalanta anti-piracy mission is being expanded. Bundeswehr soldiers will now be able to target piracy infrastructures up to a limit of two kilometres inland in the coastal region of Somalia.

The ceiling on troops will remain unchanged at 1400. The mandate should be extended until 31 May 2013 and the mission area broadened to include Somalia's coastal area and internal coastal waters. This would allow soldiers to destroy pirate logistics on the beach. The expansion still needs to be approved by the German Bundestag.

The current mandate runs until 18 December 2012. At present, approximately 340 soldiers are deployed. The combat support warship "Berlin" has two helicopters equipped with heavy machine guns and a maritime patrol aircraft on its board.

Extension of the area of the operation to the coast

German armed forces will be allowed to conduct air strikes against the pirates' logistics on the immediate shore. This includes boats, stocks of weapons and other equipment used by pirates for their attacks. The strikes are allowed up to a limit of 2000 metres inland.

German soldiers will not be deployed on the ground. However, this does not apply if rescue operations need to be carried out.

Destroying the pirates' infrastructure on shore required an expansion of the mission. Such operations have been going on at sea for some time. Now, the pirates' infrastructure will also be destroyed on land, when the opportunity arises.

This should further limit the pirates' ability to act. This is also meant to prevent the pirates from reaching open sea with their equipment, since that makes it necessary to search a sea area 24 times the size of Germany.

On 20 February 2012, the High Representative of the EU offered Somalia's transitional government operation Atalanta's support to tackle pirate logistics in the country's coastal region and internal coastal waters. Somalia's transitional government accepted the EU's offer of support. The Secretary-General of the United Nations was informed of this in a letter from 1 March 2012.

The objective: to enforce international law

The EU's operation Atalanta will continue to combat and deter piracy off the Horn of Africa. This is the only way to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Somalia's population in need. The operation also aims at supporting the safe passage of civilian shipping traffic along the region's trade routes and avoiding hickjackings and hostage-taking for ransom.

Furthermore, it is responsible for ensuring the safety of offshore supplying for AMISOM, the African Union Mission to Somalia, which was mandated by the United Nations and is supported by the EU. This is a considerable contribution to the stabilisation of Somalia, which in turns makes it possible to tackle piracy at the root.

Atalanta: a successful operation

Since the beginning of the operation, more than 130 World Food Program deliveries, with more than 850,000 tons of food and other aid material on board, reached their ports of destination in Somalia safely. This constitutes a substantial contribution to bringing aid to a population of up to four million people in distress, and it helped save many Somali lives.

The EU-led operation Atalanta has also contributed to the ongoing success of the fight against piracy. The pirates' success rates fell markedly in 2011. The continuous presence of war vessels since 2008 has made the waters of the Gulf of Aden safer for merchant ships.

Rebuilding Somalia

However, fighting piracy is not enough. In a long-term perspective, Somalia must become a functional state once more. State structures are being rebuilt with the help of the international community. The primary focus is on stable security structures.

Here, too, Germany is making an important contribution. German soldiers are also participating in the EU-led training mission EUTM Somalia. So far, approximately 1800 Somali transitional government soldiers were trained in Uganda. This figure should reach 3000 - or about 20% of the transitional government's armed forces - by December 2012.

High-tech, efficient and green

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Environmentally friendly production processes are currently very popular worldwide. Kicking off the Hanover Fair, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasised the enormous growth potential of green technologies. The industry is booming - not only in Europe.

Merkel gave her assurance that Germany would continue to strongly advocate sustainable development on the international level. She recalled that the Federal Government has been spending an extra three billion euros a year for science and research since 2009, mainly in support of practice-oriented approaches. "We must work systematically to overcome Germany's weakness when it comes to converting into products its many accomplishments in the field of research", the Chancellor said. However, Germany is on the right track.

Growth-creating innovations also require enough graduates in the technical and scientific disciplines. There is still a lot to do in this field.

Green technologies bolster the economy

The long-established Hanover Fair has made "Greentelligence“ its guiding theme this year. The concept refers to intelligently networked and environmentally friendly production technologies. Energy efficiency has long been a matter of discussion in all industrialised countries.

This year, the Fair's "Hermes Prize“ went to a medium-sized electrical engineering company, Phoenix Contact, which developed a measuring system that analyses lightning currents when they strike wind turbines. The analysis is transmitted directly per Internet to the remote maintenance centres. Lightning strikes are one of the main sources of strain for rotor blades. The system developed by the family enterprise from Westphalia determines which rotor blades were hit when by lightening. Maintenance work can thus be more targeted and the reliability of the turbines is improved.

During her traditional opening stroll, the Federal Chancellor experienced several examples of new, efficient technologies: from electric vehicles using renewable energies to wind turbines linked to energy storage systems and mind-controlled robots. Everywhere, the networking of industries is improving efficiency.

Ten per cent growth on average in partner country China

China is the partner country of this year's Hanover Fair, as it was 25 years ago. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao recalled the amazing tempo with which the Middle Kingdom has since then risen to the status of a great industrial nation. One of the great tasks it faces today is the shift from "made in China" to "created in China“. Wen and the Chancellor want to make sure that German-Chinese business cooperation will play an important part in this process. This topic was also discussed at the German-Chinese Business Forum which met in the margins of the fair.

Speaking before entrepreneurs from both countries, the Chinese Prime Minister announced that his country wants to cooperate even more closely with its European partners in the future. China will continue to open up to foreign business, he promised. He also said the Chinese government intends to improve the protection of intellectual property (keyword: product piracy), a step to which there can be no alternative in the long run. As a result of new technologies, our know-how, the various markets and the rules that govern them are coming closer together.

About 5,000 exhibitors from 69 states are represented at the Hanover Fair from 23 to 27 April, 460 of them from China. The companies show how combining efficient processes, environmentally friendly materials and sustainable products intelligently can stimulate international markets. Bringing together eight international trade fairs, the Hanover Fair embraces several sectors: industrial production, services as well as research and development. In 2012, the new Leading Trade Fair for environmental technologies, IndustrialGreenTec, is being held for the first time.

Islam Conference distances itself from Salafists

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Federal Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich spoke out against radical Salafi Muslims. Salafi extremism is not acceptable and does not fit into a free society, he stressed at the German Islam Conference.

He added that "Radical Salafists do not attract majority support in Germany“. This message is also coming from the German Islam Conference.

Friedrich made clear that "Salafism" is nothing new to the German Islam Conference. A "prevention task force" has been dealing with extremism, fundamentalism and Salafism from the very beginning.

In March 2011, it had already pointed out that "the claim to absoluteness" with which Salafists approach society is incompatible with the German Basic Law. This position was once again confirmed today, the Minister declared.

Against domestic violence and forced marriage

"Gender equality as a common value" was one of the main topics of the Islam Conference. In a declaration, the German Islam Conference took a stance against domestic violence and forced marriage. According to Friedrich, this declaration is "an important basis for future practical work aimed at putting an end to domestic violence and forced marriage."

It also sends an "important message": For the first time, Muslims and government representatives have agreed on a text that unambiguously condemns domestic violence and forced marriage. Domestic violence and forced marriage have "nothing to do with religion and Islam", Friedrich stressed.

Towards a better integration of Muslims on the German job market

Improving the integration of Muslims on the German labour market was another important focus of the Islam Conference. Here, too, many things that are attributed to religion actually have nothing to do with religion. They often have a lot to do with preconceptions, the Interior Minister explained.

open popup Education is the key to integration on the job market Photo: Burkhard Peter

A publication should now help employers become more familiar with this subject. Many companies have already recognised "the opportunities that arise from cultural diversity", Friedrich said.

The German Islam Conference is a forum that was created by the Federal Government in order to encourage dialogue between the state and Muslims. It aims mainly at improving the integration of the country's four million or so Muslims and strengthening social cohesion. Institutionalised cooperation and project work, gender equality and the prevention of extremism are some of its focuses.

The measures promoted by the GIC include the introduction of Islamic religious instruction, the establishment of Islamic studies at universities and further training for Imams.

Laying the foundations for better law - five years of cutting red tape and improved regulation

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The Cabinet has adopted the government's latest annual report, entitled "Laying the foundations for better law - five years of cutting red tape and improved regulation". The report presents progress made on implementing the government's programme to cut red tape and improve regulation.

The report indicates that significant progress has been made on scaling back bureaucracy, and that the scene has been set for the future. The time and costs involved in implementing new regulations is to be presented even more systematically in future. And achievements to date are to be underpinned for the long term. The mandate of the regulatory control council has been expanded and the working programme for improved regulation was adopted in March 2012.

Integration concerns us all

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"It is important to think beyond the clichés," declared Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening of the Third Youth Integration Summit. Only a genuinely open two-way dialogue can pave the way towards integration, she said. Young people should make use of the summit to foster dialogue.

The Chancellor declared her conviction that integration is a task for which the whole of society bears the responsibility. To put it in a nutshell, that means that everybody must make an effort. Along with Maria Böhmer, the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, the Chancellor made a very conscious decision to make integration the responsibility of the Federal Chancellery.

Young people to act as multipliers

The young people attending the summit at the Federal Chancellery are called on to contribute their own individual experience. Angela Merkel hopes that they will be able to make the "political arena more aware of the problems". "That is why I ask you all to be open in the discussions we will have," said the Chancellor. It will then be up to Maria Böhmer and herself to incorporate the experience of the young people into policies, she added.

Integration has already been successful in many fields, said the Chancellor, but "parallel universes" still exist. She hoped that the young people’s reports would point to ways of overcoming this problem.

The Chancellor expressly called on summit participants to report on the summit and their impressions to their friends and within the networks in which they move. The German expression "Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold" – talk is silver, silence is golden – does not apply here!

Tolerance, openness and courage

"An open exchange is the first step towards integration," underscored the Chancellor. Integration calls for tolerance, openness and the courage to explore the alien and the unknown.

This is important if we are to break through the usual clichés. ‘The Turk’ or ‘The German’ simply do not exist. Germany’s experience has always been that diversity is an enrichment, said the Chancellor.

Integration will not, however, happen on its own. That is why the German government has, for instance, adopted its National Action Plan for Integration.

Integrating individuals with an immigrant background is a key responsibility of the German government. The National Action Plan for Integration tackles the structural obstacles to integration and takes a sustainable approach. National and state level governments are collaborating closely, and working with local government bodies and migrants’ organisations.

Third Youth Integration Summit on 16 and 17 April 2012
This is the third time that the Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Minister of State Maria Böhmer, has invited young people from every part of Germany to attend a summit. One hundred school pupils, students and trainees are taking part. The 16 to 25 year-olds will be tackling the many aspects of integration in four workshops, entitled "Education and Integration", "The Media and Integration", "Civic Engagement and Integration" and "Inter-Generational Conflicts". They will also be drawing up proposed measures together. They will focus on what young people can do to ensure that people with an immigrant background can become better integrated.

Rocket launch a serious provocation

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North Korea has launched a long-range rocket in spite of international warnings, thus violating international agreements. The German government condemns the launch in the strongest terms and calls on North Korea to comply with its international commitments in future.

In March North Korea announced that it would be launching a long-range rocket carrying an “Earth observation satellite” in mid-April. The launch was scheduled to commemorate the centenary of the birth of founding father Kim Il-sung. Against the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, this announcement triggered international concern. The launch on 13 April failed; the rocket exploded into several parts and plunged into the sea. 

Irrespective of the success or failure of the launch, the very fact that it took place is a serious provocation declared Deputy Federal Government Spokesman Georg Streiter. North Korea is in clear contravention of several United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Before the launch, Georg Streiter has pointed out that any such move would jeopardise the resumption of the six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. Inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency too would be affected.

The German government calls on North Korea not to launch any further ballistic missiles, to comply with its international commitments and to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. Along with other members of the United Nations Security Council, Germany will be discussing how the international community intends to respond. Back in 2009 the Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea in response to missile and nuclear tests. It banned any launch using ballistic missile technology.

Since March 2001 Germany and North Korea have maintained diplomatic relations. It was agreed in 2001 that relations would also serve to ensure the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. With EU partners and within the framework of the United Nations, Germany is pushing for a resumption of the six-nation talks aiming to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. These talks, involving North Korea, the USA, South Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and Japan, have been on ice since the end of 2008. 

Government warns North Korea not to go ahead with rocket launch

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North Korea has announced its intention to launch a long-range rocket in contravention of international regulations.

The German Government has called on North Korea to abandon the launch and return to the negotiating table.In mid-March North Korea announced its intention of launching an “Earth observation satellite” with a long-range rocket in mid-April to mark the centenary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, founder of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Preparations are well underway in the largely politically isolated Southeast Asian state. This is giving grounds for concern at international level against the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. 

“Any launch would be a clear provocation,” declared Deputy Government Spokesman Georg Streiter. It would contravene United Nations Security Council resolutions and an agreement between the USA and North Korea signed in February this year. It would also jeopardise the resumption of the six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme as well as inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, added Georg Streiter.

The German government has called on North Korea to return to the negotiating table.

Diplomatic relations between Germany and North Korea were established in March 2001. At that time it was agreed that diplomatic relations were also to help ensure the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

With EU partners and within the framework of the United Nations, Germany is pushing for a resumption of the six-nation talks aiming to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. These talks, involving North Korea, the USA, South Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and Japan, have been on ice since the end of 2008. 

Following the suspected testing of a long-range missile in April 2009 and a nuclear test in May 2009, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea, and banned any launch using ballistic missile technology.

Germany and Czech Republic agree on European economic policy

Interview

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In a BBC interview Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke on out the stabilisation of the euro zone. “Germany will do everything it can to keep the euro zone together,” declared the Chancellor.

She rejected any mention of Greece pulling out of the euro zone. This would, she said be a huge political mistake and would seriously weaken the euro zone.

Europe as a whole and the euro zone in particular have “slithered into crisis” as a consequence of a global financial downturn. Governments must take greater care not to live beyond their means, she added.

Joachim Gauck is the new Federal President

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Joachim Gauck is the 11th Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany. He obtained the necessary absolute majority in the first ballot. 991 of the 1,240 delegates of the Federal Convention voted for the 72-year-old Gauck. On Friday he will be sworn in.

"What a wonderful Sunday," declared Joachim Gauck immediately after the vote, recalling also the first free elections to the East German Volkskammer or parliament 22 years ago in which he won a seat. "Alongside the joy I felt at that moment, I was equally certain that I would never miss the opportunity to vote." As President he still cannot imagine a world or a Germany without liberty and responsibility. He accepts the mandate entrusted to him with gratitude, he declared.

Joachim Gauck called on all Germans to participate in our democracy and declared that he would like to see a vibrant civil society. "It is our country and we can choose to accept responsibility or to sidestep this responsibility. But whatever our choice, it remains our country," said the new Federal President. It is well worth the effort of making sure we can hand over a country to today’s children which they too will be proud to call “our country”," he added.

"A good day for democracy," says the Chancellor

Chancellor Angela Merkel was delighted to see Joachim Gauck elected Federal President. Rarely has a candidate won such a landslide victory. "He is a President who is very much aware of the concerns of the people," she said. Equally though, Joachim Gauck respects our politicians, who "have such an important part to play in governing the country". Cooperation is bound to be good with the new President, declared Angela Merkel.

The Chancellor too referred to the historical date. It is a happy coincidence that the election of the Federal President fell on the same say as the first free elections in East Germany. This was a very special day in her life, she said. The Chancellor felt it was a good sign for German unity that not only the Chancellor, but now also the Federal President comes from what used to be the German Democratic Republic. This is a clear indication that, "East Germans now play a full part in German public life, but there is still work to be done on German unity".

Elected for five years

The Federal Convention had three candidates to choose from. CDU/CSU, FDP, SPD and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen together nominated Joachim Gauck. He was the Federal Commissioner responsible for the archives of the Stasi or East German secret police.

The other candidates were the journalist Beate Klarsfeld (nominated by Die Linke) and the historian Olaf Rose (nominated by the NPD). Beate Klarsfeld won 126 votes, while Olaf Rose won 3. A total of 108 delegates abstained.

Joachim Gauck, a former Protestant minister of the church, will be sworn in on 23 March at a joint session of the two chambers of the German parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

Electing the Federal President
It is up to the Federal Convention to decide who becomes the new Federal President. The members of the German Bundestag are all delegates of the Federal Convention. An equal number of delegates represent the elected parliaments or senates of the sixteen federal states. Because there are currently 620 members of the German Bundestag, another 620 delegates were sent by the federal states to the Federal Convention. A total electoral college of 1,240 thus elected the new Federal President. In line with Article 54, Paragraph 6 of the German Basic Law or constitution, the winning candidate must be elected by the absolute majority of the members of the Federal Convention. If no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first two ballots, a third ballot is held. The candidate with the most votes in the third ballot is then elected.

European Stability Mechanism to be launched

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The permanent European Stability Mechanism is to be fully functional by July. To this end the German Cabinet has started the ratification process in Germany with a Ratification Act.

As of July 2012 the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is to be available as a permanent crisis mechanism for financial assistance. In July 2013 it will replace the current, provisional European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The capital paid in by member states will enable the ESM to act more effectively than the EFSF.

The ESM supplements the new fiscal compact, which sets the scene for a sustainable stable union with budget discipline and healthy public finances. On 7 March the German Cabinet approved the German Fiscal Compact Ratification Act.

Solidarity and solidity

The ESM will be able to extend assistance to crisis-shaken countries where this is necessary to ensure the financial stability of the euro zone as a whole. Only countries that have ratified the new fiscal compact and introduced a legal cap on national debt will be eligible for assistance. Solidarity and solidity must go hand in hand.

The national parliaments of the EU member states that have signed up for the ESM must now ratify the ESM Treaty.

Major changes to the ESM will require to be regulated by law in Germany. This would apply to any replenishment of the capital stock or any change to the assistance instruments to be used by the ESM.

Germany will pay its share

The Cabinet also approved draft legislation covering Germany’s contribution to the ESM capital stock. Germany will pay about 22 billion euros from the national budget directly into the ESM. The legislation guarantees another 168 billion euros of callable capital.

The ESM states will provide their shares of the paid-in capital in annual instalments. On 2 March the heads of state and government agreed that two instalments are to be paid in this year. The higher payments are intended to send a clear signal to the markets and thus strengthen confidence in the euro. Germany’s share will be around 8.7 billion euros. To cover this sum, the German government will be drawing up a supplementary budget.

The ESM alone is to have a maximum lending capacity of 500 billion euros. To ensure that this is feasible and also to achieve the highest AAA rating, thus ensuring low interest rates, it is to have a capital stock of 700 billion euros. The member states will pay in 80 billion euros and provide 620 billion euros in callable capital.

The ESM will also be able to use funds to help a vulnerable ESM member country on a precautionary basis and to extend loans. A country can use ESM loans to recapitalise struggling financial institutes, if this is the reason for the national crisis. The ESM will also be able to purchase euro-zone government bonds on the primary and secondary markets, i.e. from directly affected member states or other investors. The aim is to enable the member state to continue to raise the funds it requires on the market, or to enable it to do so once again. Before bonds can be purchased on the secondary market the European Central Bank must identify exceptional circumstances on the financial market and see a threat to financial stability.

Debt rescheduling clause for euro-zone government bonds

As of 2013 all euro-zone government bonds with more than a year to run will be accorded precautionary rescheduling clauses. In future no creditor is to be able to prevent a country rescheduling. The German Cabinet has initiated the changes that this entails to the Federal Debt System Act.

Troops will be withdrawn by 2014 says the Chancellor

Troops will be withdrawn by 2014 says the Chancellor

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During her visit to Afghanistan, Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed that German troops will be withdrawn by 2014. She had just visited the Federal Armed Forces base at Mazar-i-Sharif to find out first hand from the soldiers stationed there about their mission.

The withdrawal date has been agreed at international level said the Chancellor. Most recently the date was reconfirmed at the Afghanistan conference held at the end of last year in Bonn. "The hand-over phase is in full swing," declared Angela Merkel.

Commemorating the soldiers who have fallen

At the start of her visit the Chancellor paid her respects to the soldiers killed in action in Afghanistan at the memorial.

Condolences for murdered civilians

From the base, Angela Merkel conversed by telephone with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. She extended her condolences for the murder of civilians by a US soldier at the weekend. The Chancellor described it as a "dreadful act".

Afghan government must stabilise the country

This year, Germany has pledged Afghanistan up to 240 million euros in development aid. Of this total, 65 million euros has already been released. "The Afghan government holds the key to stability and development".  Federal Development Minister Dirk Niebel, also currently in Afghanistan, is quite convinced of that.

Secure networks for secure growth

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Networked systems, mobile cooperation that spans continents, “cloud computing” – CeBIT demonstrates that a fully operational IT infrastructure is today every bit as important as water, electricity and gas. And it is a crucial factor in growth, as Chancellor Angela Merkel underscored.

The success of digital business models depends largely on how secure they are. "If we use information and communication technologies we must be certain that these data will not be lost or be used by others," declared the Chancellor at the opening ceremony in Hannover.

New technologies offer enormous opportunities. At the same time though, they are confronting Germany with major challenges. “We must always aim to be the best in the world. We are good in many areas, but in information and communication technology there are a great many fields in which we could do very much better.”

In Germany, the IT branch provides jobs for 850,000 people, and currently has 40,000 vacancies, said Angela Merkel. That is why the German government is specifically promoting technical training and degree courses. The pact to step up the number of young people training in engineering, scientific and technical occupations has already made good progress, she reported.

Networking for added value

CeBIT demonstrates that today digital systems must be networked. Information is combined in innovative ways to generate new products. One example is a software package that combines knowledge available from different sources and uses it for customs controls on trucks at national borders. The programme makes the process swifter and cheaper.

Other examples include Microsoft’s “digital city”, which gives citizens easier access to a plethora of services from the digital town hall to playground databases, and Telekom’s legally binding e-mail (DE-Mail) which has been developed in line with government directives.

Little by little the parts of Germany without access to mobile high-speed wireless internet connections are vanishing. Thanks to the LTE (Long Term Evolution) almost one third of the country is already covered.

Brazil offers more than samba and caipirinha

Brazil is the partner country of this year’s CeBIT. Angela Merkel and Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff were unanimous in their intention to step up economic cooperation, during their opening tour of the exhibition.

German businesses are particularly interested in building up Brazil’s infrastructure. The two governments also aim to cooperate more closely in the field of science and research.

Brazil, a high-tech nation, offers a huge potential market. Experts forecast that 2012 will see Brazil’s information and telecommunication technologies market expand by 6 percent, taking its volume to 92 billion euros. Brazil is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. At the German-Brazilian telecommunications summit in Hannover, German and Brazilian businesses reported on success stories and identified regional investment opportunities in both countries.

More than 1,600 German businesses already operate in Brazil, Dilma Rousseff pointed out. The President called for a “partnership on innovation” to be established. The coming year will see a “Germany Year” in Brazil with extensive cultural, economic and scientific programmes.

CeBIT is the world’s largest trade fair showcasing information and communication technology. More than 4,200 exhibitors from over 70 countries offer a comprehensive overview of supply and demand in the branch around the globe.

The keynote theme of this years CeBIT is "Managing Trust"; it looks at trust and security in the digital world. The exhibition will also be looking at “cloud computing” and various digital technologies in everyday life – from intelligent electromobility to digital communication for businesses (“social business”).

The acronym CeBIT originally stood for the Centrum der Büro- und Informationstechnik (Centre for Office and Information Technology). As of 1970 CeBIT in this guise was part of the annual Hannover trade fair. It first became an independent trade fair in 1986.

Signing the fiscal pact sends a strong signal, says the Chancellor

Signing the fiscal pact sends a strong signal, says the Chancellor

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At the European Council meeting in Brussels, the heads of state or government of 25 of the EU member states signed the fiscal pact. Chancellor Angela Merkel declared this a "milestone in the history of the European Union."

The Chancellor announced that the European Council of heads of state and government had "ushered in a new chapter in efforts to overcome the crisis."

Angela Merkel praised the liquidity policy of the European Central Bank (ECB). This is also a call to the Union, she added, to remedy the shortcomings in the euro zone. The crisis is not yet over.

The time that the ECB has given the EU by providing this liquidity assistance must be used to boost competitiveness, she said. This applies to key technologies, the further opening of the European single market, research and development and an open trade policy. At the meeting of the European Council in June, detailed decisions are to be taken on the basis of proposals submitted by the European Commission.

Fiscal pact signed

During the Council meeting, the heads of state or government of 25 member states signed the new fiscal pact. Only the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic declined to sign up. For the first time, the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact will now genuinely be put into practice, declared Angela Merkel as the pact was signed. And the European Court of Justice will be able to check that the mechanism to brake new debt is correctly introduced. "That is a strong signal that we have learned from the crisis," added the Chancellor.

The pact obliges EU member states to cut spending. The European Commission will also be given greater power to monitor members’ budgets and to take legal action in front of the European Court of Justice if necessary. The fiscal pact is to come into effect at the start of 2013, once 12 of the 17 eurozone states have ratified the agreement.

ESM to come into effect earlier

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is to come into effect this year. Two instalments are to be paid in before the end of the year. Only countries having ratified the fiscal pact will be eligible for ESM assistance. No decision was made to raise the volume of the ESM.

Herman Van Rompuy confirmed in office

The heads of state and government unanimously confirmed European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in office for another two and a half years term. This is the term of office provided for in the Treaty of Lisbon.

Serbia becomes accession candidate

Serbia has been granted the status of an accession candidate. The precondition was that agreement be reached between Serbia and Kosovo on their future relations. No date has yet been set for the start of accession negotiations with Serbia.

No decision on Bulgarian and Romanian accession to the Schengen Agreement

The European Council aims to decide on Bulgarian and Romanian accession to the Schengen Agreement in September. Criticism was once again voiced of corruption in both states and of their inadequate efforts to tackle organised crime. This is why accession has been repeatedly postponed.

Syria should end violence against civilians

Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her enormous concern about the situation in Syria. Those responsible for the human rights violations in Syria must be called to account, she said. Now, humanitarian aid is vital.

 

"Please forgive us"

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At the central memorial ceremony, Chancellor Angela Merkel asked the families of victims of extreme right-wing violence to forgive the authorities for unjustly suspecting the victims of themselves being criminals. These murders are  a disgrace for our country, said Angela Merkel.

How could this happen? Why did we not realise earlier what was happening? Why were we unable to prevent it? These are the questions at the crux of the entire matter, she continued.

It is particularly distressing that the families of the victims themselves were unjustly suspected. “Nobody can make good your losses and your desolation,” declared Angela Merkel to the families of victims. “Today though, we can show you that you are no longer alone with your grief. We feel with you, and grieve with you.”

The murders will be solved

The Chancellor pledged that everything is being done to solve the murders and to identify the helpers and their helpers, and the ringleaders. The perpetrators will receive the punishment they deserve. All relevant authorities at state and federal level are working flat out to ensure this.

We must do everything we can within the framework of the rule of law to make sure these crimes are never repeated. Angela Merkel pointed out that many wheels have already been set in motion. A federal-state-level commission has been put in place to deal with right-wing terrorism. Committees of inquiry have also begun work in the Thuringia state parliament and in the German Bundestag. The first steps have been taken to improve cooperation between the domestic intelligence agency and the police, and between state and federal authorities.

It is not acceptable for people to be subjected to hatred, contempt and violence. We will take firm action against those who persecute others because of their skin colour, their religion or where they come from, the Chancellor declared. There can be no tolerance when the foundations of humanity are under attack.

The inviolability of human dignity, as laid out in the German Basic Law or Constitution, is the foundation on which we live together in Germany, the basis of our country’s liberal and democratic order. Marginalisation, threats and persecution violate the values of the Basic Law, she said.

Strong civil society called for

Angela Merkel pointed out that in areas where unemployment is high and people are leaving in droves, the familiar structures of youth work collapse and the spectrum of leisure activities available shrink. The enemies of democracy know how to harness the resulting discontent. It is terrible when Neo-Nazis can attract young people with the promise of comradeship and when extreme right-wing parties can woo young families with games and celebrations.

The full strength of the state must come to bear there. But the instruments available to the state alone are not enough. The security authorities need partners. They need citizens who do not look away. They need a strong civil society where each individual feels responsible for society as a whole. We must fight against prejudice, contempt and marginalisation every day and everywhere.

For the privilege of living in democracy we must be willing to accept responsibility for living together in peace, and this means embracing diversity, underscored the Chancellor.

"We are one country and one society"

Germany owes a large part of its prosperity to its openness to the rest of the world and to its curiosity about other parts of the world. “We live from diversity, from an enormously wide spectrum of different ways of living,” stressed Angela Merkel.

The families of victims were represented by Ismail Yozgat, whose son was murdered, and Semiya Şimşek and Gamze Kubaşık, both of whom lost their fathers. Overnight the lives they had planned were destroyed, with the murder of those who had been so dear to them. Quite apart from their terrible grief, they had been very hurt by the suggestion that their murdered relatives had been criminals.

Emotional and psychological support is vitally important. They expect to see the murders and their helpers called to justice and punished, declared the families of victims. They feel at home in Germany. We must all pull together to ensure that, “in our country – in my country, every individual is free to develop,” as Semiya Şimşek put it.

The goal has not yet been achieved though. Politicians, the judicial system and every one of us is called on to do our bit. Gamze Kubaşık expressed her hope that the future in Germany would be marked by greater cohesion.

Second aid programme for Greece finalised

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The overall package for a new aid programme for Greece has been finalised. The ceiling remains unchanged at 130 billion euros. Creditors will be expected to shoulder somewhat more than originally expected, and accept losses of 53.5 percent on the value of their bonds.

At the end of a marathon session, the eurozone finance ministers finally agreed on a second aid programme for Greece. The Greek government has pledged to implement all necessary reforms by the end of February. The aim is to get Greece back on the road to growth and to reduce the country’s debt level to some 120 percent of GDP by 2020.

"We will provide up to 100 billion euros financial assistance. The lion’s share will be needed to recapitalise Greek banks. Another sum of up to 30 billion euros will go towards a debt exchange deal with private creditors,” explained Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

Future payments from the new programme are to be channelled primarily through a special clearing account in Greece.  This account, controlled by the Troika, is intended to ensure that Greece uses the funds to pay off its debt.

In order to stave off insolvency, Greece needs a cash injection by 20 March, when it must pay private creditors 14.5 billion euros.

By 2020 Greece should be in a position to service its debt independently.

Private creditors to take a cut in their debt

This will only work if Greece’s private creditors (banks, insurance companies and funds) also take a cut in their debt.

Greece has agreed on terms with the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Under the deal investors will forgive 53.5 percent of their principle and accept a significantly lower rate of interest, explained Wolfgang Schäuble. That is a much larger concession than that agreed at the end of October 2011.

Greece must act

The Greek parliament has already approved the package hammered out with the Troika. It is now finally clear that Greece will genuinely implement all the reforms and cuts agreed by the end of February.

The first cash under the provisions of the new programme will not be disbursed until Greece has taken “prior actions” by the end of February. These actions are worth about three billion euros and include cutting spending on medical drugs and military spending, reducing old age pension payments and introducing labour market and financial market reforms.

The other eurozone countries have not demanded any new austerity measures. Greece is only to implement measures already agreed. This was a precondition for the approval of the second assistance package. The eurozone states have already given Greece a great deal of assistance. To date a total of 73 billion euros has been lent under the terms of the first assistance programme.

Getting Greece back on course

As of 2020 Greece is to be able to finance itself on the financial markets once again. But before then it will have to slash state spending and jump start its economy.

The necessary reforms will mean genuine hardship for many Greeks. It is not a question of short-term spending cuts but of structural reforms across all policy fields. Greece’s economy must get back on course for sustainable growth.

The solidarity of the eurozone states is to make this possible. To revive Greece’s industry, EU structural assistance is to be specially targeted, for instance. The European Commission and individual member states too will be sending more of their own specialists to Greece, in order to help the country put in place a modern administrative system that can implement reforms.

German Bundestag to vote on package

The second assistance programme will not come into effect until it has been approved by the national parliaments of the eurozone member states. The German Bundestag will be debating the issue on 27 February and voting on it. The heads of state and government plan to sign the package at the next meeting of the European Council on 2 March.

Second assistance package
In July 2011 the heads of state and government of the eurozone countries agreed on a second package for Greece. Along with an EU investment programme it was designed to bring the highly indebted state new stability. It also became clear that Greece would only be able to finance itself if its private creditors were willing to accept a greater cut in their debt. At the end of October the heads of state and government agreed to cut Greece’s debt. Under the terms of this agreement private creditors were to forego about half of their claims (about 100 billion euros). The European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) is to contribute about 30 billion euros as a public-sector contribution for the private inputs of banks, funds and insurers. The second assistance programme was then to be launched on the basis of the cut in debt and ongoing austerity measures. By 2014 the eurozone countries are to lend Athens another 100 billion euros from the stability fund. By 2020 the level of Greek debt is to be reduced from its current level of over 150 percent to about 120 percent of the country’s GDP. At that point Greece would once again be able to secure the funding it needs on the financial markets.

EU agrees on a fiscal compact

5th Integration Summit at the Federal Chancellery

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The Fifth Integration Summit was held on Tuesday at the Federal Chancellery. The Chancellor presented the National Action Plan on Integration.

This has been jointly produced by the federal government, state and municipal governments, migrants’ organisations and civil society.The integration of migrants and descendants of migrants is a key responsibility of the German government. The National Action Plan on Integration takes a sustainable and structural approach to the issue.

The Action Plan takes the National Integration Plan one step further. It should make a big difference to the quality of integration. The Action Plan lays out clear objectives, which are verifiable and quantifiable, and stipulates concrete measures. This makes integration more compulsory.

The Integration Summit focused on language teaching, recruiting migrants to public-service posts, voluntary work and the media.

More migrants in public-service posts

The National Action Plan looks for the first time ever at the issue of recruiting migrants to public-service posts. The growing diversity of our country must also be appropriately reflected in the public service. We need more migrants in nurseries and schools, the police force and the fire brigade, and in public administration.

In order to achieve this goal appropriate steps are to be taken. Public-service employment is to be made more interesting for migrants, obstacles to the selection and recruitment of applicants who are themselves migrants or are descendants of migrants are to be eradicated, and public-service employees are to be made more aware of the advantages of intercultural diversity.

Denmark takes over EU Presidency

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On 1 January 2012 Poland handed over the EU Presidency to Denmark. It is the seventh time since Denmark acceded in 1973 to what was then the European Community that the country has held the presidency.

At a meeting of the General Affairs Council at the beginning of December, Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs, Nicolai Wammen, announced the priorities of his country’s presidency. The most important goals are to make Europe responsible, dynamic and green.

The Danish presidency will be aiming above all to keep climate change at the top of the political agenda. This is an issue that has recently risked being relegated to a back seat in view of the urgent economic problems facing the Union.

Nicolai Wammen also underscored the fact that the Danish presidency would be focusing on the issue of the impacts of globalisation, international crime and the rising numbers of migrants arriving at the EU’s borders impact on Europe’s security.

The presidency which rotates among all member states, with every state taking a six-month stint, has nothing to do with the Council of the European Union.
The Council of the European Union is the official title of the summit meetings of the EU heads of state and government, which are held four times a year. The current President of the Council of the European Union is the Belgian Herman Van Rompuy. He was elected for a two and a half year term of office.
The EU Council of Ministers consists of the line ministers of the member states, for instance the ministers of agriculture, economics and finance, internal affairs and justice. Along with the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers makes up the legislative arm of the Union. The presidency rotates once every six months. This means that for the first six months of 2012 the respective Danish minister will chair the Council of Ministers.
The only exception is the Foreign Affairs Council, which is headed by Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

On 1 July 2012 Denmark will hand over to Cyprus. Along with Poland, which held the presidency during the second half of 2011, Denmark and Cyprus make up the "Trio Presidency". This framework is intended to ensure that longer-term policy tasks are tackled on a more continuous basis than is possible within the scope of a six-month presidency.

Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2012

Dialogue to resolve conflicts

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In Kosovo, Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for reforms to stabilise the country and resolve the border dispute with Serbia. During her visit she thanked the 1.300 German soldiers serving with KFOR.

open popup In discussion Photo: REGIERUNGonline/Kugler

During her talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci the Chancellor also called for continued efforts to put in place the rule of law. Steps to combat corruption too must remain on the agenda.

In view of the border dispute with Serbia in the north of Kosovo, she declared that the two states must find ways of dealing with one another that are mutually acceptable.

Seek direct talks

Hashim Thaci assured the Chancellor that his government is making every effort to build a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and to establish neighbourly relations with all surrounding states. “Kosovo would like to be part of the EU and NATO,” he stressed. Dialogue is the only option, the only way to resolve the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.

Angela Merkel underscored the fact that she would like to see Serbia assuring “sensible movements of goods” between Serbia and Kosovo. Joint border controls would also be desirable. The best thing would be “to seek direct talks with the partner in question”.

Thanks to the soldiers

After her talks with the Prime Minister, Angela Merkel visited German soldiers serving in Kosovo as part of the KFOR mission. At KFOR Headquarters in Pristina the Chancellor met German soldiers for lunch.

She expressed her heartfelt thanks to them, also on behalf of “very many people in Germany”. They should be reminded, “that our security and our peace at home in Germany are secured in part by the fact that you are serving here, and are serving Germany here”.

The Chancellor was accompanied by General Volker Wieker, Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces. She also specifically thanked the German police officers in Kosovo, the experts who are part of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), and all of their families. “We have great respect for your families back in Germany who support you,” said Angela Merkel.

Only political and military efforts together can bring about a solution, underlined the Chancellor. This, she said, had once again emerged clearly during her talks with Major General Erhard Drews, the German KFOR Commander.

Unfortunately the peaceful situation in Kosovo has once again descended into crisis over the last few months, said Angela Merkel in view of the hostilities in the north of the country along the Serbian border, where two German soldiers were shot.

The Federal Armed Forces have been deployed in Kosovo since 12 June 1999. Currently about 1,300 German soldiers and around 6.800 KFOR troops in total are stationed there.

There must be tangible signs that the process to bring peace and stability to Kosovo is gaining speed, said the Chancellor. Unfortunately this is easier said than done, she admitted, and pointed to the difficult negotiations with Serbia. 

Great interest in the Chancellor’s visit

The media interest in the Chancellor’s visit was huge. Some schools in the Greater Pristina area closed so that students could see the German head of government first hand.  

"The Durban Package"- a success for global climate protection

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Participants at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban have agreed on a roadmap for a new international climate protection agreement.

Speaking in the German Bundestag, Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen described the outcome of the Durban conference as "a landmark and substantial outcome" for global climate protection.

“The genuine breakthrough of this conference is a global agreement on climate change that will be binding for all countries,” underscored Norbert Röttgen. The agreement will be a “binding legal instrument” and will put in place a “new fundamental order in international climate policy”. Negotiations are to start before the end of 2012 and be finalised by 2015. The new instrument is to come into force in 2020.

At the conference it was decided to institute a second commitment period as of 2013 under the Kyoto Protocol, which is due to expire at the end of 2012. Canada has now officially withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol. “We are forced to note the wholly unacceptable step thus taken by Canada,” said the minister.

A question of global justice

“For the least developed countries, climate change is a question of life and death,” said Norbert Röttgen. It is an elementary issue of justice in our time because the people who have basically done nothing to contribute to the problem of climate change are those worst affected by the consequences. The Climate Change Conference could not have achieved this outcome without the strategic partnership between Europe and the least developed countries.

Negotiations and actions

Germany has offered to headquarter the new United Nations Green Climate Fund. “We would like to see this Fund established immediately,” stressed Norbert Röttgen. Germany will provide 40 million euros start-up assistance. The Green Climate Fund will be operational in 2012. “The funding of climate change mitigation measures is crucially important and a question of the credibility of industrialised countries,” said the minister. By 2012, German will make available a total of 1.26 million euros in additional funding.

"We will not leave the Afghan people in the lurch"

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Speaking in the German Bundestag, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has declared 2011 as the year that marked a turning point in international Afghanistan policy.

open popup Helping people in Afghanistan Photo: IMZ- Bildarchiv

Afghanistan is in a better position than it was only one year ago, and in a much better state than it was ten years ago, he said in a government statement. This is partly thanks to the work of German soldiers and diplomats.Corruption, human rights violations and the security situation do, however, still give grounds for concern, he added.

Transition launched

In July 2011 the transition began, and by February 2012 the Afghan Government will already be responsible for the security of about half of the population, said Guido Westerwelle. The first steps to hand over responsibility have been successful.

The international community has undertaken to support Afghanistan in the long term. Never before has there been greater international consensus. At the Afghanistan Conference in Bonn the new partnership between Afghanistan and the international community was sealed. The strategic consensus of Bonn will now be translated into practice, building block by building block. For the decade of transition, from 2015 to 2024, the Federal Foreign Minister announced that a sound and reliable foundation would be laid.

Business opportunities exist

Guido Westerwelle pointed to the opportunities offered by Afghanistan’s rich reserves of raw materials, and to the Brussels business conference. He also pointed to the ongoing negotiations on a partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Afghanistan.

In addition, the German government will be negotiating a bilateral partnership agreement next year, which is to put cooperation on a firm footing. The Federal Foreign Minister continued, adding that the extractive sector in particular has potential and could in the long term make Afghanistan independent of financial assistance. German support will, however, be needed for many years to come, so as to build a competitive private sector.

Political solution needed for Afghanistan

It has now been generally accepted and recognised that there can be no military solution; only a political solution offers genuine prospects. The international community agreed on principles in Bonn that lay down clear yardsticks for a political solution, including the demand that the peace process reflect the legitimate interests of all Afghans.

All sections of the Afghan population must be able to identify with the peace process. The sovereignty, stability and unity of Afghanistan must also be guaranteed. This will involve renouncing violence and breaking with international terrorism, as well as officially recognising the Afghan constitution.

The entire region must accept the peace solution and support it, stressed Guido Westerwelle. Afghanistan must never again be allowed to pose a threat to the world. He also looked at the recent progress report on Afghanistan, which gave an uncompromising view of the successes achieved in the country, but also of the difficulties. The minister said that the security situation remains difficult, but that the Afghan forces can increasingly cope with the challenges.

German Bundestag to vote in January on extension of the mandate

Guido Westerwelle asked the German Bundestag to support the motion of the German government to extend the mandate of the Federal Armed Forces in Afghanistan by one year with a strong majority. The new mandate is to initiate the withdrawal of combat troops. By the end of January only 4,900 German troops are to be stationed in Afghanistan. The Bundestag is to vote on the extended mandate on 26 January 2012.

Europe will emerge stronger from the crisis

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The vision of a political union is taking shape. In a government statement on the euro summit, Chancellor Angela Merkel declared herself convinced that Germany and Europe will emerge stronger and more sustainable from the worst crisis of its history.

open popup Setting the scene for a new Europe Photo: REGIERUNGonline/Steins

The Brussels summit and the decisions made with respect to a fiscal compact have set the scene for a new Europe, said Angela Merkel. The euro-zone states will proceed to remedy the structural shortcomings in the economic and currency union. There can be no turning back now. There is no swift and easy solution – the process will take years. But, the euro-zone states have made the necessary decisions.

17 Plus Agreement

Moves to amend the European treaties failed because the United Kingdom refused its support. That is why now at least the 17 euro-zone states will now enter into a new international agreement. The new stronger foundation for the union is to be finalised by March 2012.

Then the national parliaments will be called on to ratify the agreement. The European Commission and the Court of Justice will be given an important role. The European Parliament will be involved from the outset.

Open to all EU member states

The agreement will be open to all EU member states and is to become part of the EU framework. The Chancellor said, "What is important is not the duration, but the fact that we do not give up in the face of setbacks." The economic and currency union must be completed and the original errors remedied, she continued. "Then Europe will emerge stronger from the crisis than before."  The scene has been set for a Europe that projects stability, solidarity and confidence.

The measures

The euro-zone states have significantly increased the capacity of the provisional European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The permanent European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is to be brought forward to 2012.

All states will then have to pay into the facility in 2012. This should strengthen its credibility. The total volume of the ESM will be 500 million euros.

The International Monetary Fund will be given an appropriate level of funding of another 200 billion euros. Tight conditions will be attached to the funds.

The private sector is to be involved. All new loans will contain debt rescheduling provisions, known as Collective Action Clauses (CAC).

When urgent decisions are to be made regarding the ESM, a majority representing 85 percent of the capital will be needed to pass a motion. 

Crisis prevention

The signatory states to the new agreement must stick to the rules, or accept the consequences.

• All states are to introduce a legal cap on new debt, preferably enshrined in the constitution, with a view to balancing public budgets. A budget will be deemed to be balanced if the deficit does not exceed 0.5 percent of the GDP of the country in question. The Court of Justice will be entitled to review the correct translation of the European debt cap into national law.
  
  
• In future the EU will automatically be able to impose sanctions on countries with excessively high budget deficits. Only a qualified majority of the euro-zone states will be able to vote to prevent sanctions. A reverse qualified majority thus applies.
  
  
• Countries with excessively high debt levels are to enter into legally binding reform agreements with the European Commission.

The United Kingdom to remain an important partner in the EU

Angela Merkel expressed her regret that the United Kingdom would not be part of the new system. There can be no question, however, but that the United Kingdom will remain an important partner in the European Union. The UK is a reliable partner in the fields of foreign and security policy, competitiveness, the single market, commerce and climate change mitigation, she said.

Reconstruction and development proceed apace

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Military and civilian engagement has achieved a great deal in Afghanistan. Over the last ten years an Afghan state has been built which is to ensure its own security as of the end of 2014.

open popup Well on the way to full sovereignty Photo: BMI

The German Cabinet adopted the progress report on Afghanistan on 14 December 2011.

The progress reports of the German government on the situation in Afghanistan are designed to inform the German Bundestag. They are drawn up by the federal ministries involved in Afghanistan under the aegis of Ambassador Michael Steiner, Germany.

Partnership with Afghanistan renewed

The progress report on Afghanistan firstly sums up the outcomes of the international conference on Afghanistan held in Bonn on 5 December 2011, at which the partnership between Afghanistan and the international community was renewed and placed on a clear and firm footing for the decade following 2014.

Ten years after the Petersberg Conference, Afghanistan is today well on the way to becoming a fully sovereign state. Following the first phase of rebuilding the state of Afghanistan, the focus is now to shift to the transitional period beginning in 2014. With a clear commitment to continuing international engagement after 2014, the conference was able to allay the fears of many Afghans that the Taliban could simply wait for the international troops to withdraw.

Long-term objectives drawn up

Our objective is still to ensure that Afghanistan never again represents a threat to world security. The crisis-ridden state must become a responsible sovereign state of Afghanistan. It must help build peace and stability in the region, as an equal member of the international community.

For any lasting stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan, a political peace process is indispensable. The legitimate interests of all groups in Afghanistan must be taken into account. Including the Taliban. The international conference on Afghanistan in Bonn drew up fundamental principles for this political peace process and the intended outcome.

The message to come out of Bonn is that Afghanistan will not be left in the lurch. We must work together to preserve what we have achieved together .

In its first progress report in December 2010, the German government took stock of German engagement in Afghanistan and laid out the course to be taken by that engagement.

After an interim report in July 2011, the German government has now produced a detailed progress report as promised. It lays out the current situation in Afghanistan and reports on the international and German commitment in the country.

The situation in Afghanistan has improved

The progress report is broken down into three main activity areas of international engagement in Afghanistan:

• Security
• Governance
• Development

Afghans assume responsibility for their own security

In spite of some spectacular attacks, the security situation as a whole was consolidated in 2011. The assistance being provided to build the Afghan security forces is continuing successfully as planned. In October 2011 the security forces numbered 305,600. They are thus well on the way to ensuring the stability needed to build and develop Afghanistan.

In July 2011 the Afghan government began to take over responsibility for security in the country. By the end of 2014 the Afghan side should be responsible for the entire country. Afghanistan will then enjoy full sovereignty.

Enforcing the Afghan constitution

In terms of governance and democracy, there is still a lot to be done in Afghanistan. Germany is involved in training lawyers and administrators. The institutions involved in the electoral system are being strengthened. Another focus of German efforts is the development of a legal order and moves to combat corruption.

Compared to 2001, the human rights situation in Afghanistan has improved markedly. Universal human rights are firmly enshrined in the Afghan constitution, but they are far from being part of everyday reality. This is an ongoing process and will be a long-term task for the Afghan government.

Better living conditions for a more stable and more secure country

Over the last ten years the people of Afghanistan have been given much better prospects. Educational opportunities have been improved across the nation. The infrastructure for transport, energy, drinking water and irrigation has been developed, opening up long-term prospects of employment and income generation. Progress has been made in the agricultural and trading sectors, and in the extractive sector; Afghan.

For the first time ever Afghanistan can now provide primary medical care for a large percentage of the population. This positive trend will help underpin security and stability in Afghanistan in the medium and long term.

Fewer German troops in Afghanistan as of 2012

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For the first time the ceiling on the number of German troops to be made available to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is to be reduced. As of 2012 a maximum of 4,900 soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces will be deployed in Afghanistan.

Drawdown is made possible by the positive development of the country. The German government aims to further reduce the troop level to a maximum of 4,400 by the end of the current mandate, provided the situation permits. Neither German troops nor the sustainability of the hand-over process must be jeopardised by withdrawing troops too early.

The Cabinet decision must still be approved by the German Bundestag.

The ceiling on troops will be reduced from 5,350 to 4,900. This figure includes the crews of the NATO AWACS aircraft. The flexible reserve will be discontinued. The mandate will be extended until 31 January 2013. Currently, around 5,000 German soldiers are deployed in Afghanistan.

German responsibility in the north of Afghanistan

In the course of the ISAF mission, Afghanistan has been divided into six regional commands. Germany will continue to be responsible for the north of the country. Regional Command North is based in Mazar-e Sharif. It embraces a total of six multinational Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT). Two of these, in Kunduz and Feyzabad, are German-led. At the start of 2008 presence on the ground was extended to embrace the Provincial Advisory Team in Taloqan. German soldiers are also stationed at Termez airfield in Uzbekistan. 

Hand-over of the first reconstruction team to civilian management

Responsibility for the German Regional Reconstruction Team in Feyzabad was handed over to civilian management under the German Federal Foreign Office on 13 December 2011. This is an important step to realise the Afghanistan Strategy. Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle declared, "This too is a sign that the international engagement in Afghanistan is changing. It is gradually acquiring a civilian image, as we see with the gradual hand-over of responsibility for security to the Afghan side and with the reduction in international troop strengths."

In Germany’s area of responsibility in the north of the country, almost half the entire area will soon be covered by the hand-over of responsibility for security. This also applies to major parts of Badakshan province, including the main provincial town of Feyzabad.

Additional district under German responsibility

On the edge of the German area of responsibility in northern Afghanistan lies the district of Ghormach. Originally it belonged to Regional Command West, but was made part of Faryab Province in 2008 by President Karzai. Effectively it is thus part of Regional Command North. Because it was originally covered by Regional Command West it has not hitherto been listed as an area of deployment of the Federal Armed Forces in the wording of the mandate. Federal Armed Forces missions in this area have been conducted on the basis of one-off authorisations issued by the Minister of Defence.

The German Bundestag has been informed at regular intervals. This will change in the new Bundestag mandate, which will incorporate the administrative decision made by the Afghan side and thus clarify the mandate.

Afghans to ensure their own security

The aim of the international community is to ensure that Afghanistan no longer represents a threat. A great deal has been achieved in this respect.  The terrorist leader Osama bin Laden is dead and Al-Qaeda has no home base in Afgha­nis­tan. Military and civilian engagement over the last ten years have made it possible to build an Afghan state which will assume full responsibility for its own security as of the end of 2014. This target laid down by President Karzai was agreed with the international community in July 2010 in Kabul. Afghan security forces are increasingly prepared to take on this responsibility.

The transition began in 2011. The security situation is becoming more stable, even if spectacular attacks cannot be completely discounted. The numerical strength of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) peaked in 2011 after ten years. By the end of 2014 ISAF should have completed its task. By then the international troops, including the contingent from the Federal Armed Forces, should have left Afghanistan.

That is not, however, the end of our responsibility. German and international efforts and victims in Afghanistan would all have been for nothing if we were to leave the country in the lurch now. At the Afghanistan Conference in Bonn the international community pledged an increasingly civilian long-term commitment, to ensure that Afghanistan becomes more secure and more stable in the long term.

Training Afghan security forces

Support for the Afghan security forces is continuing successfully. The security forces numbered 305,600 in October 2011, meaning that they are well on the way to ensuring the stability needed to build and develop Afghanistan. Experience indicates that in the long term only Afghan structures can put in place a sustainable, secure environment in the country. The international contribution can be to put in place enabling framework and provide start-up assistance. In this way the preconditions can be met for the Afghan government to assume responsibility. 

German police advisory team helps build the Afghan police force

The police force too is to be built such that Afghanistan can assume full responsibility for security as of the end of 2014.

Germany has seconded up to 200 police officers to help, within the framework of the bilateral German Police Project Team (GPPT). To these must be added up to 60 police experts working for EUPOL Afghanistan. All in all 77 million euros are being provided this year alone for training measures, equipment and infrastructure projects. Some of the funds also go to the UN-administered Law and Order Trust Fund, which is used to pay the salaries of Afghan police officers.

New European fiscal compact decided

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Meeting in Brussels, the heads of state and government of the euro-zone states have agreed on new contractual foundations. The 17 euro-zone states and probably all other EU member states with the exception of the United Kingdom intend to enter into a new treaty to put in place a fiscal contract.

This should restore the confidence of markets and the general public in the stability of the common currency. Chancellor Angela Merkel declared herself well satisfied with the results. "The 17 euro-zone states must regain credibility. And I believe we can and will manage to do so with the decisions we have made here today," she said in Brussels.

The structural faults of the economic and currency union which was sealed twenty years ago in the Maastricht Treaty will now be remedied little by little. At the final press conference Angela Merkel reiterated that credibility in the euro zone cannot be restored overnight, but that it will involve a longer process. If a currency union is to work properly the common organs involved must be strengthened, she said.

The key resolutions

The heads of state and government agreed on the following cornerstones for a new agreement. 

• All states will introduce a legal cap on new debt levels with a view to balancing public budgets. A budget will be deemed to be balanced if the deficit does not exceed 0.5 percent of the state’s gross domestic product.
• Countries with excessively high budget deficits can be penalised automatically in future. Sanctions can only be averted if a qualified majority of the euro states so vote. A reversed qualified majority thus applies.
• Countries with excessively high debt will enter into detailed reform agreements with the European Commission.
• States failing to comply with the new terms can be taken to the European Court of Justice.

The permanent European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is to be operational in mid-2012 rather than 2013. Irrespective of the commitments of the EFSF, the ESM will have a maximum lending volume of 500 billion euros.

In terms of involving private creditors, the ESM is to take its lead from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These are practices with which both the markets and the member states are familiar. This is one factor in confidence building.

In view of the challenges ahead, the heads of state and government will meet once a month in future. Chancellor Angela Merkel expressly praised the excellent cooperation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the constructive atmosphere in which the talks took place. Angela Merkel expressed her regret that the United Kingdom does not intend to sign up for the fiscal compact. It was impossible for the other states to agree to the conditions demanded by the United Kingdom, she said.

Federal Economics Minister Philipp Rösler said that the conclusions demonstrate that Europe must proceed bravely and determinedly. There can be no reversing the moves towards a stability union. He said.  

The most important regulations

The key points of the new deal are:

• A ceiling on debt anchored in law in all euro-zone states with a view to ensuring balanced public budgets and
• Automatic penalties for states breaching the agreed deficit levels. Only a qualified majority of euro-zone states would be able to prevent penalties being imposed.

The entry into force of the future European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is to be accelerated, such that it can be operational in summer 2012 rather than in 2013. The ESM will have a maximum lending volume of 500 billion euros irrespective of the commitments of the EFSF.

In terms of involving private creditors, the ESM is to take its lead from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These are practices with which both the markets and the member states are familiar. This is one factor in building confidence.

Angela Merkel declared herself satisfied with the decisions. "Everybody in the world will see that we have learned from past mistakes."

EU accession for Croatia

In the morning of the second day of the summit the heads of state and government signed the Treaty of Accession with Croatia. President Ivo Josipovic and Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor signed the Treaty for Croatia. This means that the ratification process can now begin.

Alongside the European parliament, all 27 EU member states will have to ratify the Treaty. This process should be completed by mid-2013.

Decision on Serbia postponed

Serbia, by contrast, cannot hope to be accorded official accession candidate status before March 2012. The EU heads of state and government will be deciding this on Friday. Germany in particular was against declaring Serbia a candidate country at this time. Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasised in her government statement on 2 December 2011 that Serbia "has not yet met expectations to the degree required". Serbia will be required to normalise relations with Kosovo before it can move closer to the EU.

The draft summit declaration states that the EU Council of Ministers should report again before a final decision is made in March 2012. It should examine and confirm that Serbia can demonstrate continued credible engagement and further success in implementing an agreement with Kosovo relating to the joint management of the common border.

Serbia must also enter into an agreement on extensive regional cooperation by March. And it is to actively support NATO with respect to the KFOR mission is Kosovo and the EU with respect to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).

Germany offers to host Green Climate Fund

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Speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen has offered to headquarter the new Green Climate Fund in Germany. It could be based in Bonn, where the UN FCCC Secretariat is already located.

The UN Climate Change Conference in Cancún in 2010 decided to put in place a Green Climate Fund. This is to help poorer countries adjust to the consequences of climate change. "We believe that the Green Climate Fund is vitally important," said Norbert Röttgen. This funding is indispensable for developing countries, to cut levels of greenhouse gas emissions. That is why it is crucial for industrialised countries to be reliable in their climate change mitigation policy, he added.

 

The Climate Change Conference in Durban aims to create operational structures for the Green Climate Fund. As of 2013 the Fund is to be established. Developing countries are to receive 100 billion dollars (74 billion euros) a year. As of 2020 these funds can be used to finance adjustment to climate change and climate change mitigation measures, such as interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or forest protection activities.

 

Working together to make progress

 

In his speech yesterday at the UN Climate Change Conference, Federal Foreign Minister Norbert Röttgen called on his audience to work together to achieve a legally binding agreement. It is not yet too late, he said. He invited all countries to "get on board". The pledges made by the EU alone will not be enough to keep global warming down to a two-degree-Celsius rise – as agreed at the last conference in Cancún.

 

In 2010 Germany spent 1.25 billion euros on international climate projects. In 2011 this sum has risen to some 1.8 billion euros. The funds have been used to support about 100 countries, reported Norbert Röttgen. He announced that 40 million euros would be set aside for 2012 and 2013 in addition to the sums already pledged for the Green Climate Fund.

 

Assistance for South Africa, the host country

 

During the UN climate change negotiations, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Nie­bel, announced an additional 120 million euros support for climate change mitigation activities in Southern Africa.

 

"Africa’s vast renewable energy sources – solar power, wind power, geothermal power and hydro-power – are the key to energy security, economic growth and regional integration. For the rural population in particular access to renewable, sustainable energy sources can go a long way to giving them genuine prospects and helping them overcome poverty," declared the minister.

 

The additional funds will be used to finance two projects: generating solar power in South Africa and the regional networking of climate-friendly power generation in Southern Africa.

Combating fiscal drag - wage rises should stay in people's pockets

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People should be allowed to keep their wage rises to offset rising prices. Otherwise the phenomenon known as fiscal drag could lose them about six billion euros every year.

The German government has now adopted a bill that is designed to tackle this unfair situation.

Fiscal drag brings the state additional revenues that were not really intended by the legislative. It is really a form of concealed tax rise that kicks in without the legislative even acting.

The new bill to tackle fiscal drag is a strong signal that the German government wants to see stability and fairer taxation. It does not intend to count on these additional revenues to help reduce the national debt.

The government is now translating into practice what was decided on 6 November 2011 by the governing parties:

• The income level at which income tax becomes payable will be raised in two stages by a total of 350 euros – as of 1 January 2013 it will go up to 8,130 euros and as of 1 January 2014 to 8,354 euros.
• Income tax rates will be brought into line with price rises so as to reduce the progressive effect. This will also be done in two stages, with total impact of 4.4 percent.

The government also aims as of 2014 to review the impact of fiscal drag regularly, once every two years.

Fiscal drag: Part of the tax system is progressive income tax. This means that wage rises push earners into a higher tax bracket and result in their paying more tax, although the rise was in fact intended to offset inflation and thus shore up the purchasing power of earners. This additional tax burden more than cancels out the intended impact, i.e. keeping up with rising prices. This is known as fiscal drag.

An honest way to make taxation fairer

The model now agreed on should remedy this state of affairs:

Firstly the income level at which income tax kicks in is to be raised. It is quite clear already that the current level, which is intended to provide a tax-free subsistence level, will not be adequate to ensure subsistence for the next two years. The German constitution obliges the legislative to raise the level where this is the case. The subsistence level is determined in line with the minimum requirements laid out in social welfare law.

Secondly, the progression in the rate of income tax payable will shift. This should ensure that wage rises that merely offset inflation will not push earners into a higher tax bracket and thus increase their average tax burden. 

This is an important step towards a fairer taxation system. A wage rise that only keeps up with rising prices is not really an increase in income.

Our taxation principle states that all citizens should be taxed in line with their economic ability to pay taxes. People with a low income need pay very little tax or indeed none at all. Those with a higher income pay more. That is both socially balanced and fair, because those who have more can also contribute more.

In percentage terms lower incomes benefit more

Higher earners will continue to contribute significantly more to tax revenues than lower income groups. Individuals, who have to pay more tax as a result of their higher income, pay more in euros, because we have a progressive system. When compared to their actual taxes, the lower income groups will see their tax burden reduced most significantly.

Case studies

A single earner with a gross annual income of 30,000 euros, will pay around 150 euros less tax as of 2014. His tax burden will be cut by 3.4 percent. Currently he pays 4,328 euros tax.

A comparable earner with a gross annual income of 60,000 euros, will see his tax burden cut by 2.5 percent. He currently pays 14,590 euros tax.

A married earner with two children and a gross annual income of 30,000 euros will pay 164 euros less tax a year as of 2014. His tax burden will be cut by 10.6 percent. He currently pays 1,550 euros tax.

A comparable earner with a gross annual income of 60,000 euros, will see his tax burden cut by 3.3 percent. He currently pays 9,187 euros tax.

Compatible with the ceiling on new debt levels

The move to negate fiscal drag is entirely compatible with the ceiling on permissible new debt. The German government is expressly not counting on additional tax revenue as a spin-off from wage rises. The people’s purchasing power is to be retained. That is in the best interests of all parties.

The federal government has accommodated the interests of the federal states to a great extent in this bill. By way of financial compensation they will receive a fixed sum, which will correspond to the average tax revenues lost as of 2014. In 2013, this will mean that the federal government will pay out almost 0.4 billion euros a year. As of 2014 the sum will rise to 1.2 billion euros a year. This should help the federal states reduce their debts.

A partnership for the future

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The day after the major Afghanistan Conference in Bonn, the Chancellor and the Afghan President declared themselves happy with the results. The conference sent a "clear signal" said the Chancellor, after breakfasting with President Hamid Karzai.

After 2014 we will not "simply abandon Afghanistan" said the Chancellor, but accompany it "as it becomes a peaceful state". The central importance of the security situation was once again illustrated by two brutal attacks today in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif, which left many dead and injured. The Chancellor extended her condolences to President Hamid Karzai and stressed that, "a lot of hard work was still needed," to ensure security in Afghanistan. The Afghan side must accept responsibility for security, step by step. Only a political solution will bring peace to Afghanistan, said the Chancellor. Germany aims to support the process of reconciliation, but also to extend economic cooperation with Afghanistan. 

Negotiating a partnership agreement

At their meeting Angela Merkel and Hamid Karzai agreed that Germany and Afghanistan would begin negotiations on a partnership agreement. This agreement should, said the Chancellor, "look to the future". She could envisage vocational training and economic cooperation playing a particularly important role, alongside the continued training of Afghan security forces, she said.

Cooperation on training

"The young people of Afghanistan must have a future." The experience that Germany has in the fields of training engineers and mining academies could help Afghanistan to train its young people properly. At the same time this cooperation in the field of training and more intensive economic cooperation should help to ensure that Afghanistan "enjoys fair access to its own resources," stressed the Chancellor.

Strategy to overcome the national debt crisis

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Germany and France would like to see structural changes to the European Union. Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Nicolas Sarkozy are both convinced that this would entail modifications to the European treaties. Meeting in Paris they have agreed on proposals to resolve the national debt crisis.

They will be sending their proposals to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the Council of the European Union They will be asking Herman Van Rompuy to put the proposals on the agenda for the European Council summit meeting on 8 and 9 December in Brussels.

The proposals are as follows:

1. Automatic sanctions

Should a state fail to comply with the budget deficit regulations sanctions should automatically be imposed; these could only be prevented by a two-thirds majority.

2. Golden rule for a balanced budget

In all 27 EU states, but at least in the 17 euro-zone states there are to be compulsory, standard ceilings on permissible debt levels. The European Court should be able to determine whether or not the national legislation in member states guarantees the binding nature of compliance with the permissible debt ceiling. It should not be able to declare individual national budgets invalid.

Chancellor Angela Merkel says, "If that proves impossible for all 27 EU member states, Germany and France are determined to take this path with the 17 euro-zone states."

3. Responsibility of the private sector

The EU aims to involve private creditors in line with the rules of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Greece is a one-off case, which must not be allowed to happen again. It must be clear that government bonds are a safe investment, explained Angela Merkel.

4. European Stability Mechanism

Germany and France want to accelerate the adoption of the European Stability Mechanism so that it is in place by the end of 2012.

5. Monthly meeting of economic governance representatives

The heads of state and government of the euro-zone states should meet once a month as an economic governance body. The meetings would aim to boost competitiveness and economic growth.

6. European Central Bank (ECB) and eurobonds

Germany and France have full confidence in the ECB and reaffirm its independence. There will be no eurobonds. "Joint liability for debts makes no sense," declared Nicolas Sarkozy.

Negotiations on modifications to the European treaties should be wound up by March 2012.

Extremely close cooperation

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy underscored the vital importance of Franco-German cooperation. The two largest economies in the European Union have had to make good the mistakes of the past during the crisis.

The joint initiative is to send a signal to investors around the globe – Europe will respect the rules as regards debt levels, will pay its debts, and will boost growth.

Support for Afghanistan's further development

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The international community has reconfirmed its lasting partnership with Afghanistan. A sovereign state that is able to contribute to building peace and security throughout the region is the aim.

Afghanistan will not be left in the lurch – that is the message to emerge loud and clear from the international conference in Bonn.

By 2014 the Afghan side should have assumed all responsibility for security, to be followed by a "decade of transition" from 2015 to 2024. During this period, Afghanistan is to become a fully functioning state, and a hub for international trade, with a special focus on the country’s extractive sector.

Partnership with Afghanistan

This conference is a unique opportunity "to broaden and develop our partnership with the Afghan government and the entire Afghan people," said Chancellor Angela Merkel. "Afghanistan can rely on the support of the international community even after 2014. That is one of the vitally important lessons we have learned from the rich tapestry of Afghanistan’s history," she declared. 

No reconstruction without security

The international community has gained a wealth of experience, both positive and negative. All parties agree that there can be no reconstruction without security. And security alone, without any civilian reconstruction, would be a sham. One example from the area in which Germany has gained most experience is Mazar-e Sharif, which is once again becoming a regional locomotive of economic development.

"Mentoring" and "partnering"

Much has been achieved in building the Afghan security forces, underlined the Chancellor. More than 300,000 Afghan soldiers and police officers are already in action. "We will continue to pursue the concept of mentoring and partnering, while we draw down our own troops."

Private-sector engagement vitally important

Private-sector engagement is of paramount importance. The European extractive sector has decided to build a partnership, always with a view to providing help toward self-help. "Afghanistan ought to benefit from its own resources, and be enabled to develop," declared the Chancellor. "That is the major objective for us."

Germany aims to contribute to the process of reconciliation among all groups in Afghan society, said Angela Merkel. She asked President Hamid Karzai, "to stamp out corruption and the drug trade and thus improve the living conditions of the people". 

Major diplomatic event

The conference in Bonn is a "scaled-down General Assembly of the United Nations," said Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. A total of 85 states and 15 international organisations, in all around 1,000 participants made their way to Bonn. In spite of some setbacks, much has been achieved, he said. "A stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in everybody’s best interests," he pointed out to participants. Reconciliation is the precondition for a political solution to internal conflicts. He looks forward confidently to the future, he declared.

"Ten years ago Afghanistan set out on its journey, here in Bonn," said the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. On behalf of his people he thanked Germany for its commitment. The last few years have "opened up many new opportunities and brought many improvements for the people".  Ten years ago the country started with nothing. Today 8.4 million children attend school. Afghanistan has more than 50 television channels and over 80 newspapers.

Afghan ownership

The challenges in the field of security remain daunting. Hamid Karzai pointed out that he recently announced the second group of regions in which the international forces are beginning to hand over responsibility for security to the Afghan side. This process has now reached about half of the population. The Afghans themselves are responsible for the future of their country. Even if the support of the international community will be needed for years to come, his country does not want assistance for a day longer than absolutely necessary, he said. 

Renouncing violence, respecting human rights

The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, reminded his audience that ten years ago the first Bonn conference was still headed by the United Nations. The fact that this conference is headed by Afghanistan itself is an expression of the country’s increasing ability to take the lead in many fields. Lasting stability must be based on a process of reconciliation which embraces all groups within society. The precondition is that violence is renounced and human rights respected. From his point of view, he added, it is particularly important for Afghanistan’s neighbours to support the country’s development. About four million refugees have already returned to Afghanistan. 

Seven principles for the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan

• There must be Afghan ownership of the peace process.
• The legitimate interests of all Afghans must be respected.
•  The outcome must be a sovereign, stable, undivided Afghanistan.
• Violence must be renounced.
• The country must turn its back on international terrorism.
• The Afghan constitution, including human rights and women’s rights, must be respected.
• The region must respect and support the process.

Objectives and guidelines for the summit meeting of the European Council

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Speaking in the German Bundestag, Angela Merkel has laid out the objectives and guidelines of the German government for the Eurpean Council summit meeting on 8 and 9 December. In her government statement she declared that the current crisis cannot be resolved overnight. Overcoming the debt and confidence crisis is a process that will take a good many years.

In their efforts to overcome the crisis, the euro-zone states have already made a great deal of progress, explained the Chancellor. The EU is in agreement on the causes of the crisis and a consensus has been reached on tackling it. The euro-zone states have already taken concrete steps towards establishing a fiscal union, she said. "We are now beginning to put in place the fiscal union." The need for this has been widely recognised.

  

Protecting credibility

 

"People trust the courts, the national central banks and the European Central Bank (ECB). The credibility of these institutions must be protected," declared the Chancellor. To this end, their independence must be guaranteed.

 

Regaining confidence

 

"One field which has regrettably almost entirely lost the confidence of the people, over a period of many, many years, is politics," added Angela Merkel. Politicians have failed to meet all or some of the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact. Now agreement has been reached that this must stop. The details must still be hammered out, but a consensus exists on the project as a whole. The euro-zone states must find ways to put into practice what has been decided and to put in place a strong fiscal union, she said.

 

Seeing the crisis as a opportunity

 

Now we have the opportunity to tackle fundamental structural defects in the economic and currency union, stressed the Chancellor. To this end it is essential that all states comply with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact. Any failure to do so must have repercussions. The EU institutions must play an important part in this. "A distinction must be made between credible rights of intervention and national budget rights." This should not entail any joint liability. National revenue and expenditure will not be controlled by any one EU institution.

 

No eurobonds

 

Once again the Chancellor roundly rejected the notion of eurobonds. Any joint liability for the debts of other euro-zone states is unthinkable, she said.

 

Using available instruments

 

"The authority of the EU must be strengthened such that the agreed ceilings (on budget deficits and national debt) can be effectively enforced. This must include the right to take offenders to the European Court." Structural reforms are also needed to boost growth and create jobs. These cannot be financed on credit, though, added the Chancellor.

 

Fiscal union

 

The foundations of the economic and currency union must be strengthened on a long-term basis and structural defects remedied. That would be the fiscal union. This will entail modifying the European treaties. Any split in the EU must be avoided. Non-euro-zone states should also be able to join. There can be no question of Germany wanting to dominate Europe. "German and European unification are two sides of the same coin," said Angela Merkel.

 

 

The "fiscal union" will mean primarily closer financial-policy cooperation among euro-zone states with a view to overcoming the euro crisis. The modifications needed to the European treaties are a first step on the way to a fiscal union.

 

Euro has proved its value

 

The euro has retained its value better than the D-Mark and is more than just a currency. It is a symbol of the will of Europe to meet the demands of a globalised world. As the Chancellor put it, "Our aim is to see a strong Germany in a strong EU so that the people in Germany can prosper."

Enlargement of the European Union 

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Europe has enjoyed lasting peace for over sixty years now and stability unparallelled anywhere in the world. Since 1957 the European Economic Community with its original six members has developed and expanded step by step to become the European Union we know today with 27 member states. And other states are eager to join.

EU enlargement round by round

 

	Date	Title

60px
1957	Founding members: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
1973	Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom
1981	Greece
1986	Portugal and Spain
1995	Austria, Finland and Sweden
2004	Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
2007	Bulgaria and Romania

 

 

 

From the outset the Community was open to all European states. In 1951 Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands laid the cornerstone for European unification, when they founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In 1957 the same six states founded the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in Rome. The aim was always to enlarge the Community to embrace more states.

 

Because of the East-West conflict, the process of integration was initially limited to Western Europe. This only changed when the Iron Curtain fell in 1989.

 

Basically every European state can apply to join the European Union. The precondition is that candidate states embrace the fundamental principles of liberty, democracy, human rights, basic liberties and the rule of law. These principles are laid out in the Copenhagen Criteria, which regulate the terms of accession.  

 

Accession candidates

 

The EU remains an attractive option for many European states. Several have already applied. Currently Turkey, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland and Montenegro have official accession candidate status.

 

The European Union began accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005, once Turkey had met all the preconditions. The negotiations have currently been put on ice because Turkey refuses to meet its customs union obligations vis à vis Cyprus, which is an EU member state.

 

 

Accession negotiations with Croatia began on 3 October 2005, and were completed in June 2011. The EC Commission has informed all EU member states, and the standard accession procedures can now be commenced. The Accession Agreement must be ratified by the European Parliament and the 27 member states. Croatia has announced that it will be holding a referendum on accession to the EU. It is expected to become a full member in 2013.

 

 

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was accorded candidate status on 17 December 2005. No date has yet been set for the start of accession negotiations because of a dispute with Greece over the name of the country.

  

 

Iceland gained candidate status in mid-2010. Accession negotiations were then launched. Since the country is already part of the European Economic Area, which means that many EU regulations already apply in Iceland, the accession procedure is expected to be swift.

 

Montenegro was accorded candidate status in December 2010. Accession negotiations are due to start soon.

 

  

Potential candidate countries

 

Albania lodged an application for accession on 28 April 2009.

Serbia applied to join the EU on 22 December 2009. The European Commission proposes that the country be accorded candidate status.

 

 Questions on EU enlargement

 

·         What are the advantages of enlargement?

·         What conditions must a state meet before it can join the EU?

YouTube interview with the Chancellor well received

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The level of interest in the responses of Chancellor Angela Merkel to the ten questions submitted most frequently by YouTube users has been high. The three videos have been called up more than 95,000 times already.

YouTube users submitted questions on a wide range of issues. They included the salaries paid to members of the German Bundestag and whether these were appropriate, the future of the welfare system and the legalisation of cannabis.

 

1,790 questions put to the Chancellor

For a period of three weeks, citizens had the opportunity to put their questions to Chancellor Angela Merkel via the government’s YouTube channel, or to add their comments to questions already put by others. A total of 1,790 questions were received.

The users themselves decided which questions the Chancellor should answer. Users could support or reject questions, and this generated a ranking list over which the government had no influence.

 

250,000 visitors

One month after it was first launched the German government’s YouTube channel already has almost 4,000 subscribers. The website has chalked up over 250,000 visitors, while more than 360,000 videos have been viewed.

This makes youtube.com/bundesregierung one of the top one hundred channels of the week (i.e. one of the 100 channels with the highest number of subscribers and the highest number of visitors). Quite an achievement for a political YouTube channel!

Restoring confidence in the euro

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Germany, France and Italy aim to protect the euro and overcome the current crisis of confidence. That is the outcome of Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Italian Prime  Minister Mario Monti in Strasbourg.

All three states want to see a strong, stable euro. What is needed is budget consolidation and structural reforms to boost growth, create jobs and reduce unemployment.

If this goal is to be achieved, everybody is going to have to do their bit. Germany and France have pledged to support Italy.

Closer political cooperation

The three countries aim to take the same path out of the crisis. They want to restore political confidence through closer cooperation at political level.

Modifying the European treaties

Germany and France aim to submit joint proposals for modifications to the European treaties for euro-zone states before the next European Council summit meeting on 9 December.

Overcoming structural weaknesses in the currency union

Chancellor Angela Merkel reported that the three countries would like to overcome structural weaknesses in the currency union bit by bit. The modifications to the European treaties are a first step on the way to a fiscal union. It is essential to coordinate policies to a greater degree, she said, if the aim is to have a common, stable currency. "The point is that in future it must be possible to hold accountable any state failing to comply with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact," explained the Chancellor.

The Stability and Growth Pact must be implemented, said Angela Merkel. The threat of the European Court is helpful in this regard. "But for that we need a group of extremely resolute countries that have a common currency. That is why we need the modifications to the European treaties here," added the Chancellor.

These modifications to the treaties would not affect the European Central Bank (ECB), which is to remain independent.

No eurobonds

Referring to the proposals of the European Commission that eurobonds be introduced, Angela Merkel countered, "I do not believe they are necessary." Of the proposals made by the European Commission she subscribes to the call for budgetary discipline. Eurobonds would obscure the different levels of competitiveness of the euro-zone economies which are currently reflected in differing interest rates. The different interest rates are a clear sign of where work is needed. If we all worked efficiently, the interest rates would converge automatically, she said.

Eurobonds are a way of raising capital. They would represent common debts for the euro-zone states, which would share the capital thus raised. They would be jointly liable for repayment, i.e. creditors could demand of any debtor state that it repay the entire sum.

The three states also intend to fully implement the measures agreed on 26 October. There must equally be clarity over bank recapitalisation measures, negotiations with Greece and the banks must be pursued, and guidelines for the leveraging of the European Financial Stability facility (EFSF) must be produced, added the Chancellor.

Angela Merkel once again rejects eurobonds

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Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again rejected the notion of eurobonds, which have been proposed as a way of combating the debt crisis.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Confederation of German Employers in Berlin, the Chancellor said she found the debate about eurobonds in the middle of the crisis "inappropriate".

 

"The question of joint liability" can only be put at the end of the process of European integration, "if indeed it is put at all," she stressed. Eurobonds would mean that all euro-zone states would take on common debt at the same interest rate across the board. Stronger economies like Germany would see themselves forced to pay a higher interest rate.

 

Improved monitoring of compliance with euro stability regulations

 

She feels that it is "extremely regrettable and inappropriate" for the European Commission to be focusing on eurobonds at this point in time, said the Chancellor during the general debate on the 2012 budget in the German Bundestag, reiterating her criticism.

The proposal to issue eurobonds would have us believe that by making the entire euro-zone jointly liable for debts, we can overcome the structural shortcomings of the currency union, she said. "That will absolutely not work," declared Angela Merkel. The Chancellor once again underscored her aim of ensuring improved monitoring of compliance with the stability regulations governing the euro, through limited modifications to the European treaties. Rather than issuing eurobonds, the currency union should introduce new contractual regulations to ensure that the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact are respected in all euro-zone states. This would involve a modification of the European treaties.

States that fail to comply with agreements within the euro zone, "must reckon with automatic intervention". National budgets must become invalid if they violate regulations.

Germany's future is in Europe

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The Chancellor has once again called for joint efforts to overcome the crisis in the euro zone. During the general debate on the 2012 national budget she advocated stricter monitoring of compliance with stability provisions in the euro zone. She roundly rejected the introduction of eurobonds.

At the start of her speech the Chancellor named all the victims of the Zwickau-based right-wing terrorist group. She expressed her horror at the extent of hatred and xenophobia uncovered. “These acts are an attack on the very fabric of our society,” said Angela Merkel. She welcomed the proposed compensation for the families that victims have left behind. The war on political extremism is an ongoing fight.

 

Fighting the crisis in the euro zone

 

Angela Merkel’s speech focused on fighting the crisis currently shaking the euro zone. The Chancellor expressed her thanks for the support of the German parliament in the vote on the euro-zone rescue fund on 26 October. “Parliament voted for the future of Germany,” said Angela Merkel. Next year too, the crisis in the euro zone will be top of the political agenda, she said.

 

The reasons for the crisis are the excessive levels of debt in many euro-zone states, the lack of competitiveness and fundamental shortcomings in the structure of the economic and currency union. The instruments needed to cope with the crisis must still be fine-tuned.

 

The Chancellor said that the payment of the next instalment of aid to Greece will depend on all parties in the Greek government signing the reform plan.

 

Restoring confidence on financial markets

 

The Chancellor roundly rejected the proposal of the European Commission to introduce eurobonds. More importantly, she said, limited changes are needed to the European treaties and compliance with the stability regulations for the euro must be better monitored. Hitherto there has been no possibility to intervene when a member state contravenes the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact.

 

Guidelines are needed for the euro-zone rescue fund (European Financial Stability Facility, EFSF) that are capable of convincing investors. The Chancellor declared that there can be no change to the mandate of the European Central Bank.

 

So as to restore confidence on the financial markets, she advocated greater harmonisation of fiscal law along the lines of a fiscal union. This must be combined with improved competitiveness and performance in the euro-zone states, she said. Only political measures are capable of restoring confidence. The financial sector must serve the market economy and the people, and not vice versa, she said.

 

Levying a financial transaction tax worldwide would be the correct signal that banks must do their part. The Chancellor expressed her regret that no global agreement could be reached on this point, as a result of which she suggested that the matter be examined at European level.

 

Engagement in Afghanistan

 

The Afghanistan conference to be held in Bonn at the beginning of December will discuss the peaceful process of troop withdrawal. “One reason for our presence in Afghanistan is our own security.” That is why, the Chancellor explained, Germany will continue to support Afghanistan even after 2014. She thanked the troops for their foreign missions, particularly in Afghanistan.

 

Speaking about the reform of the Federal Armed Forces Angela Merkel said it would be a particular achievement of this legislative period.

 

What are we going to live from in future?

 

Demographic change is posing a major challenge for Germany, stressed the Chancellor. “We will have more old people, fewer young people and a more diverse population. And there will be fewer of us.” Angela Merkel announced an extension of the nursing care services for patients suffering dementia and their families in particular. The reform of the nursing care system must be very carefully prepared, she said.

 

Parental benefits and childcare benefits will make it easier to combine working and family life, giving people more choice.

 

Shaping the shift to cleaner energies

 

It will also be important to shape the switch to cleaner energies. The switch to renewable energies will take generations, said Angela Merkel. Germany cannot grow without a modern transport infrastructure. The high levels of investment in education and research are vital investments in Germany’s future. The Chancellor reminded her audience too of the wide spectrum of integration work already undertaken.

 

“Those who work must have more than those who do not work,” said Angela Merkel. The rise in the standard level of second-stage unemployment benefit must go hand in hand with a rise in the level of the tax-free allowance.

 

The Chancellor assured her audience that the coalition government will tackle the challenges ahead resolutely in the year to come as they have to date. “It is our goal for our society to be a human, successful society”.

Shock and sorrow in the face of a series of murders committed by right-wing extremists

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"The information we now have about the true extent of the crimes is devastating." Once again Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the "brutal series of murders" and the "terrible acts of violence" in Germany. At the start of her speech she honoured the victims and read out their names. Angela Merkel addressed the families they have left behind, "Our thoughts are with you."

During the general debate in the German Bundestag the Chancellor welcomed the initiative of the Federal Minister of Justice to compensate victims as a "sign of our solidarity". She also thanked Federal President Christian Wulff for meeting the families of victims. This is an expression of the "concern and the solidarity of the German people".

"An attack on the very fabric of our democracy"

The fact that extreme right-wing underground groups have been able to operate for more than a decade is unprecedented, said the Chancellor. "What the investigators, who are still only starting their work, are uncovering in the extreme right-wing milieu in terms of deviant thinking and actions, inhumanity and contempt is of great concern to me, and not only to me." These acts have shocked all Germans and are a threat to Germany’s standing in the world.

"These acts are no more and no less than an attack on the very fabric of our democratic society," said Angela Merkel. She called on all democratic parties to pull together in the fight against extreme right-wing ideologies. The joint, unanimous declaration issued by the German Bundestag was "an important signal," she added.

Exploring all legal avenues

 "We take the threat of extreme right-wing activity very seriously," underscored Angela Merkel. "But we need not start accusing one another of being blind to whatever end of the political spectrum. That can only drive a wedge between democrats who have so much in common."

The Chancellor reiterated her promise that politicians and security authorities would do everything to get to the bottom of these crimes and the background to them. All legal avenues are being explored, including the difficult issue of banning certain political parties. The Federal Minister of the Interior said that he was, "shocked and saddened by the daily new discoveries relating to the series of murders committed by a terrorist gang". The murders are, he said, "not only an attack on individuals, but an attack on our very society, our freedoms and our democracy". There can be no place in Germany for extremism, political violence or xenophobia.

 

"We are not blind to either the extreme left or the extreme right!"

 

Federal Minister of Justice Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger called on everyone to be watchful and to beware of anything that could jeopardise freedom and a democratic order, "from whatever end of the political spectrum". There is no point in playing off one threat against another. No threat to the rule of law will be trivialised. "We are not blind to either the extreme left or the extreme right, nor can we afford to be!"

 

The German government is not prepared to accept the spread of structures and ideas that have led to individuals from different backgrounds, of different religious beliefs and of different ethnic backgrounds being harmed.

 

Cooperation between security authorities to be improved

 

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger demanded that mistakes be "unsparingly" uncovered and analysed. The Interior and Justice Ministers are working flat out to determine why there was a breakdown in information between federal and state authorities and between the police and the office for the protection of the constitution).

 

Hans-Peter Friedrich declared his determination to remedy shortcomings in cooperation between federal- and state-level security authorities. Above all there must be better cooperation between the police authorities and the offices for the protection of the constitution at federal and state level, he said.

 

Joint declaration issued by all parliamentary parties

 

At the start of its session the German Bundestag commemorated the victims of the series of murders. Members of the German Bundestag stood and Bundestag President Norbert Lammert read out a joint declaration. In the name of all members of the German Bundestag he expressed the sorrow and shame they felt. The Bundestag President extended his condolences to the families of victims and pointed to the responsibility borne by a constitutional state.

Working together to solve the debt crisis

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In spite of their differences the United Kingdom and Germany are working together to solve the debt crisis. At a press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that both countries advocate a competitive Europe.

The Chancellor said both governments were absolutely determined that Europe must be competitive. Europe must be able to create jobs for its citizens and demonstrate its innovative abilities. Equally, they both want to make the internal market a success. National budget consolidation efforts should, however, be mirrored by similar moves at European level.

 

Angela Merkel called for Europe to stick together. "In a world with seven billion inhabitants, Europe’s only chance is for the 500 million people within the European Union at least to stick together. There are good reasons for us to do so – we share the same values: liberty, solidarity and justice."

 

Strengthening European institutions

 

Once again the Chancellor called for limited changes to the EU treaties so that the euro stability regulations can be better monitored. David Cameron and the Chancellor underscored the fact that they have agreed to work together to hammer out a solution by the EU summit meeting scheduled for early December in Brussels.

 

Angel Merkel said that "the European institutions need more binding authority and greater scope for enforcing their decisions". National governments too must genuinely meet their commitments. This will involve "limited changes to the treaties for the members of the euro zone, but only for these states".

 

The United Kingdom, said the Chancellor, has made it quite clear that it has difficulties to accept certain aspects of the status quo in the European Union legislation process. The British have their own ideas as to how competitiveness could be improved for the British side.

 

Financial transaction tax

 

Germany and the United Kingdom differ in their views on a financial transaction tax.  At global level both would like to see a levy of this sort introduced. At European level, no progress was made, reported Angela Merkel, referring to the idea of introducing a tax of this sort unilaterally within the EU.

 

David Cameron said that the financial services sector should make a fair contribution to resolving the crisis. He believes that a financial transactions tax only makes sense at global level, however.

 

In spite of the fact that the two sides differ, the two states are joined by friendship, stressed the heads of government. The Chancellor underlined the importance of the 27 member states of the European Union holding together. In the face of globalisation too, this is essential, she said.

 

Middle East

 

As well as the debt crisis talks focused on foreign-policy issues including Iran and Syria, as well as the Middle East. The Chancellor reported that the two governments are concerned about Iran’s nuclear programme and the situation in Syria. They respect the clear stance taken by the Arab League. Germany and the United Kingdom are pushing for a resolution to be passed by the United Nations Security Council.  

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