UnBUNDling the German Presidency

Table of contents

Interview of Franziska Brantner 4­7

PRIORITIES OF THE german PRESIDENCY 7­9

POLITICAL CALENDAR FOR THE NExT SIx MONTHS 10­11

wHAT ABOUT Germany? 12 Interview of Franziska Brantner

The German Presidency 2020 focuses on climate and the environment. This semester we interviewed Franziska Brantner, MEP and member of the Greens.

With the Green-Deal, the EU Commission has made climate policy a priority. Because of the COVID19 pandemic however, some worry that health care and economic recovery could overshadow the Green Deal. To what extent do you believe that the Green Deal will remain a priority? What do you think can be expected from the German Presidency of the Council in concrete terms?

We are not only in the midst of a health Franziska BRANTNER and economic crisis, but also of a worsening climate crisis. The Green Deal can be the answer to these crises. To do so, the EU allocated to climate protection. We need to must use the Green Deal as the cornerstone aggressively invest in green technology and of its reconstruction policy to pave the way infrastructure such as in a trans-European to a sustainable, crisis-proof economy and energy and rail networks, in a green society. The German Government has hydrogen strategy, in a 70 million roofs repeatedly affirmed that it wants to push program for solar installations over the next ahead with climate protection during its ten years, and in a building renovation wave. Presidency. But lip service and big headlines These initiatives could create up to two will not be enough. We demand that the million jobs. For this change to materialize, Federal Government make the Council all industries, sectors and state aids must Presidency the Climate Presidency. undergo a review process. For instance, agricultural subsidies should be attributed What climate policy measures (e.g. with on the basis of the sustainability and quality regard to mobility, energy, recycling) would of the production and not the size of the satisfy you as a Green politician? farm. The Federal Government must take the lead on these subjects to make the First of all, the Climate Act will need to Green Deal a reality. include ambitious climate targets for 2030. We need a 65% percent decrease in CO2 The German Minister of the Environment emissions and verifiable CO2 quotas for has made digitalization a priority of each year. Every other euro of the upcoming environmental policy. Do Green politicians EU budget and recovery plan must be see eye to eye with her? Of course. Digitalization is an important EU is currently moving a great deal of driver of innovation in climate protection as money. Every other euro of this should go to well. Whether smart energy networks, climate protection. The bonds themselves autonomous minibuses or intelligent home should also be green, in order to strengthen technology, the ecological potential of the ecological transformation. Furthermore, digital applications is enormous. In all the German government must not sign any sectors, in industrial production, mobility new EU budget that does not include a rule and logistics, electricity and heat or of law mechanism. Democracy and the rule agriculture, digital innovation can help of law are non-negotiable. An independent achieve climate goals. For example, commission should examine the situation in industrial energy consumption could be member states. If governments undermine reduced by up to 30 percent by 2030 thanks European values, EU funds should no longer to IT-controlled process optimization. be spent by the offending government, but should go directly to projects and On the other hand, digitalization also municipalities through the EU Commission, consumes a great deal of CO2 as well as so as not to disappear into some oligarchic large quantities of valuable and finite raw network. Democracy destroyers must not be materials. To prevent digitalization from supported with EU money. becoming a climate killer, it urgently needs an ecological regulatory framework. For this To conclude, we’d like your advice. Now reason, the German government should that the German border is open again, advocate for an EU Green IT Strategy, IT should we travel to Germany for the eco-design guidelines and ambitious summer and what should we definitely targets for energy and resource efficiency visit? for the European cloud initiative "Gaia X". You should come to my constituency, The final steps of the Brexit negotiations Heidelberg! With its beautiful old town, its will take place under the German romantic castle on the hill, the Philosophers' Franziska BRANTNER Presidency. How is Germany preparing for Path and the meadows along the Neckar this? What do you know about the River, there is a lot to discover, especially in objectives of the German government? summer, and you can enjoy the Baden way How likely is a no-deal scenario? of life, which is very reminiscent of France.

Boris Johnson seems to heading towards a The German Presidency 2020 focuses on no-deal option. There is very little time left climate and the environment. This semester and the EU must now face reality and start we interviewed Franziska Brantner, MEP and preparing society, and especially businesses, member of the Greens. for a hard Brexit and show the British what limited access to the internal market looks With the Green-Deal, the EU Commission like. After all, the conditions for broad has made climate policy a priority. Because access to the internal market are fair of the COVID19 pandemic however, some competition and ecological and social worry that health care and economic production standards. recovery could overshadow the Green Deal. To what extent do you believe that There has been talk of making recovery the Green Deal will remain a priority? What measures conditional upon the adherence do you think can be expected from the to sustainability standards and to the rule of German Presidency of the Council in law. How does Germany intend to take up concrete terms? these issues during its Presidency? What do you consider particularly important? We are not only in the midst of a health and economic crisis, but also of a worsening With the Next Generation EU Fund and the climate crisis. The Green Deal can be the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) the answer to these crises. To do so, the EU 5 The German Minister of the Environment has made digitalization a priority of environmental policy. Do Green politicians see eye to eye with her?

Of course. Digitalization is an important driver of innovation in climate protection as well. Whether smart energy networks, autonomous minibuses or intelligent home technology, the ecological potential of digital applications is enormous. In all sectors, in industrial production, mobility and logistics, electricity and heat or agriculture, digital innovation can help achieve climate goals. For example, must use the Green Deal as the cornerstone industrial energy consumption could be of its reconstruction policy to pave the way reduced by up to 30 percent by 2030 thanks to a sustainable, crisis-proof economy and to IT-controlled process optimization. society. The German Government has repeatedly affirmed that it wants to push On the other hand, digitalization also ahead with climate protection during its consumes a great deal of CO2 as well as Presidency. But lip service and big headlines large quantities of valuable and finite raw will not be enough. We demand that the materials. To prevent digitalization from Federal Government make the Council becoming a climate killer, it urgently needs Presidency the Climate Presidency. an ecological regulatory framework. For this reason, the German government should What climate policy measures (e.g. with advocate for an EU Green IT Strategy, IT regard to mobility, energy, recycling) would eco-design guidelines and ambitious targets satisfy you as a Green politician? for energy and resource efficiency for the European cloud initiative "Gaia X". First of all, the Climate Act will need to include ambitious climate targets for 2030. The final steps of the Brexit negotiations We need a 65% percent decrease in CO2 will take place under the German emissions and verifiable CO2 quotas for Presidency. How is Germany preparing for each year. Every other euro of the upcoming this? What do you know about the EU budget and recovery plan must be objectives of the German government? allocated to climate protection. We need to How likely is a no-deal scenario? aggressively invest in green technology and infrastructure such as in a trans-European Boris Johnson seems to heading towards a energy and rail networks, in a green no-deal option. There is very little time left hydrogen strategy, in a 70 million roofs and the EU must now face reality and start program for solar installations over the next preparing society, and especially businesses, ten years, and in a building renovation for a hard Brexit and show the British what wave. These initiatives could create up to limited access to the internal market looks two million jobs. For this change to like. After all, the conditions for broad materialize, all industries, sectors and state access to the internal market are fair aids must undergo a review process. For competition and ecological and social instance, agricultural subsidies should be production standards. attributed on the basis of the sustainability and quality of the production and not the There has been talk of making recovery size of the farm. The Federal Government measures conditional upon the adherence must take the lead on these subjects to to sustainability standards and to the rule of make the Green Deal a reality. law. How does Germany intend to take up these issues during its Presidency? What do municipalities through the EU Commission, you consider particularly important? so as not to disappear into some oligarchic network. Democracy destroyers must not be With the Next Generation EU Fund and the supported with EU money. Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) the EU is currently moving a great deal of To conclude, we’d like your advice. Now money. Every other euro of this should go to that the German border is open again, climate protection. The bonds themselves should we travel to Germany for the should also be green, in order to strengthen summer and what should we definitely the ecological transformation. Furthermore, visit? the German government must not sign any new EU budget that does not include a rule You should come to my constituency, of law mechanism. Democracy and the rule Heidelberg! With its beautiful old town, its of law are non-negotiable. An independent romantic castle on the hill, the Philosophers' commission should examine the situation in Path and the meadows along the Neckar member states. If governments undermine River, there is a lot to discover, especially in European values, EU funds should no longer summer, and you can enjoy the Baden way be spent by the offending government, but of life, which is very reminiscent of France. should go directly to projects and Priorities of the German Presidency

“Together. Making Europe strong again”

13 years after its last Presidency and for the 13th time, Germany will preside over the European Council from July to December 2020. The German Presidency is the first of a trio made up of Portugal and Slovenia. Holding the Presidency in these times of crisis will require a great deal of flexibility and resilience. Despite the context and the many upcoming challenges, Germany has set ambitious goals for its Presidency: 1 The European Union’s finances

Germany’s first task is crucial. Against the backdrop of a looming economic crisis, coming to an agreement on the MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 – 2027) and the Next Generation EU recovery instrument is more important than ever. The calendar favours German interests and the country thus has the opportunity to have an even bigger say over the direction EU policy will take in the coming years. If negotiations come to a close before year end, Germany’s Presidency will be forever remembered as the one during which European countries agreed to commit to spending an unprecedented € 1.85 trillion as a union. 7 2 Climate and environmental policy

The German Presidency has stressed that the implementation of the Green Deal will be a key component of its Presidency and of the post COVID-19 recovery plan. It will try to link climate targets, environmental goals and the preservation of biodiversity with crucial stimuli for growth. The Presidency has also thrown its weight behind the Commission's proposal to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030 from 50 to 55% compared with 1990 levels. Climate action, the biodiversity strategy 2030 and sustainable digitalisation will thus be the guiding principles of the Presidency. However, the federal structure of the country, differing party positions within the ruling coalition and German industry interests may bring some complications along the way. 3 Europe’s position in the world

Germany has reiterated its support for the High Representative and has emphasized the need to ensure an active cooperation with:

• The United States as the EU’s closest foreign and security policy partner and as the Presidency’s motto “Make Europe great again” suggests. The November 2020 US presidential elections will be crucial in determining the future shape of the transatlantic relationship. • Africa, trough concrete joint initiatives in the fields of peace and security, economic cooperation for sustainable development and employment, climate and energy policy and health and migration issues. The Presidency will address these issues with African partners during European Union-African Union Summit that will be organized in October 2020. • China, to foster reciprocity in all policy areas. China is both an important trading partner and a competitor in line with the long-term common EU interests and values. The COVID-19 crisis has brought to light the many strategic challenges China represents for the European Union. Germany will be at the forefront of the design of a relationship that will have to address climate protection issues, bilateral investment agreements and the crucial topics of human rights and the upholding of European values. 4 negotiations on the future relationship with U.K.

They constitute another strategic challenge Germany will need to address over the course of its presidency. The negotiations have been stalling and the expiration of the extension deadline has made the conclusion of an agreement all the more urgent. Germany has repeatedly stressed that the negotiations will have to lead to an agreement that balances each party’s rights and obligations and that allows fair conditions for competition. In light of persisting disagreements over a number of these key issues, Germany has announced that it will not be seeking an agreement at all costs. 5 Response to the COVID­19­pandemic

The pandemic has put the European Union to the test. During its Presidency, Germany will have to balance the imperative of a sustainable and inclusive growth strategy with the imperative of economic recovery, the protection of European jobs while keeping a watchful eye on social cohesion within the Union. The objective is to learn the lessons from the crisis to develop a more resilient, cohesive and decisive Union. The Green Deal, the Next Generation EU recovery instrument and the EU Structural Fund represent the cornerstones of Germany’s plan towards the EU’s reconstruction. 6 Digitalisation and innovation

The German Presidency wants to push forward with the idea of sovereignty in EU data and technology policy. This is in line with the overarching goal of “expanding digital and technological sovereignty, enhancing competitiveness and shaping a sustainable and stable financial architecture”. To that end, the Presidency will encourage the development of more efficient and sustainable technologies and support the development of Artificial Intelligence. 7 A fair Europe

The German Presidency has announced that the COVID-19 pandemic response will have to be founded on social cohesion and solidarity. The pandemic has exacerbated and brought to light many of the already existing inequalities between countries and social groups. The German Presidency will also place a particular emphasis on the respect of the rule of law, on questions of gender equality, on intergenerational solidarity, and on the protection of the long-term prospects of the European youth.

Germany has the largest national economy in the European Union and the world’s fourth largest economy. The German economy and conjuncture will certainly give the European Union a special impetus. According to Claire Demesmay (German Council on Foreign Relations): “If Angela Merkel succeeds in animating the negotiations and finding an ambitious and rapid agreement to respond to the crisis, her credibility and that of Germany will be enhanced”. She also notes that “Germans don't like to talk about their leadership. […] Whilst they are aware of their influence, they do not claim it, especially in a context where European integration is supposed to put States on an equal footing. However, this Presidency is bound to have an impact on their leadership”.

9 Political calendar for the next six months

07 | JULY 09 | september • 12th: Second round of the Polish • 7th-8th: European Competition Day. presidential elections. The incumbent This high-level conference will be president Andrzej Duda, who was organized in Berlin by the Federal formerly affiliated with the Law and Ministry for Economic Affairs and Justice party (PiS) is leading the race Energy and will focus on strengthening against his opponent Mayor of Warsaw European economic sovereignty and Rafał Trzaskowski and candidate for defining a competition framework for Civic Platform. the digital economy. • 17th-18th: Special European Council. • The Conference on the Future of European leaders will meet in Brussels Europe first expected to take place in to discuss the Next Generation EU Spring 2020 should start sometime this recovery plan to respond to the fall. The conference will be organized COVID-19 crisis and to negotiate the by the European Parliament, Council EU’s new long-term budget (MFF) and Commission and is one of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s most prominent commitments. It aims to give citizens the chance to 08 | august contribute to shaping the future of the European Union. • Brussels and the rest of Europe is taking some time off to rest before an • The vote in Committees on the new action packed end of the year. Digital Services Act is expected for September. The DSA represents a major revamp of the 2000 e-Commerce Directive. The aim is to adapt the legislative framework to the major changes that have occurred in the digital industry over the last 20 years. 10 | October 11 | November • 2nd-3rd: Czech regional and Senate • 3rd: United States presidential election. elections The outcome of the election will have • 3rd: German Unity Day (Tag der a major impact on the transatlantic Deutschen Einheit). This year will mark relationship the 30th anniversary of German • 23rd-24th: 14th Strategic Energy Reunification. The official celebrations Technology (SET)-Plan-Conference in will be organized by the city of Berlin. Potsdam. • The EU-China summit was supposed • 5th: High-level conference in Berlin on to take place in September but was hydrogen and the decarbonization of postponed to the end of November the gas sector because of the pandemic. Its goals is • 11th and 25th: Lithuanian parliamentary to reach an agreement on fair election. conditions for foreign investments from and to China. Other issues such • 15th-16th: European Council as the Hong Kong security law and • 28th-30th: European Union-African human rights will certainly be on the Union Summit agenda as well. • The European Commission will release their strategies on FinTech, on the creation of an integrated EU Payments Market and draft legislation on the 12 | December regulation of Crypto-Assets and Cyber th th Security. • 10 -11 : European Council st • Germany wants to come to an • 31 : End of the Brexit transition period. agreement with the United Kingdom Both parties hope to come up with an on the nature of the relationship with agreement, but a “no-deal” scenario the EU by the end of October. should by no means be ruled out.

11 What about Germany?

The Federal Republic of Germany is located in Central and Western Europe and bordered by the Baltic and North Seas, and by the Alps. Germany has a population of around 83 million people.

The country’s largest city and capital is Berlin. This has however not always been the case. In fact, during the Cold War and because of West Berlin’s isolation within the DDR, the capital of the Federal Republic was transferred to Bonn. After the reunification in 1990, Berlin regained its status as the nation’s capital.

Germany is made up of 16 federal states (the so-called Bundesländer). Each state has its own constitution and enjoys autonomy in a wide range of areas such as education or public security.

Federalism has been enshrined in the German Constitution since 1949. The special feature of the German federal system is the close cooperation between the federal government (Bund) and the states (Länder). The Länder have their own laws and take part in European affairs. They are also responsible for the implementation of federal laws on their territory.

This federal structure is founded on the core principles of subsidiarity and solidarity. Subsidiarity means that the federal government shall only take on those tasks that cannot be carried out at the Länder-level or that relate to the federal territory as a whole. The principle of solidarity means that the Länder and the federal state have a duty to assist each other to guarantee a uniform level of welfare across the country. This is exemplified by the fiscal equalization system between the Länder.

The German flag consists of three equally sized, horizontal stripes in black, red, and gold. The current version was adopted in 1949 in West Germany and remained unchanged after reunification in 1990 as the German Democratic Republic (GDR) had adopted the same colour scheme. Today, German associate the colours of the national flag with freedom and unity. German History

• 800: the Frankish King Charlemagne is crowned emperor by the Pope in Rome. The Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation under Charlemagne’s leadership represents one of the first attempts at unifying the constellation of sovereign entities that more or less constitute modern-day Germany’s territory. • 1517: An Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther precipitates the Protestant Reformation by criticizing the Catholic Church’s excesses and abuses. Luther himself translated the Holy Scriptures into German, thus contributing to the development of New High German or what is now known as standard German. • 1871: Proclamation of the German Empire after centuries of attempts at unifying the different city-states, states and principalities present on the territory of present-day Germany. The founding was driven by Otto von Bismarck and was made possible by the victory of a coalition of German states in the 1870 Franco-Prussian war. • 1900: The Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) comes into force. This new civil law, which replaces the Napoleonic Code in many regions of the Empire is a huge step towards unification. • 1949: Two German states are founded. On the one hand, the Democratic Federal Republic on 23 May in Bonn, on the other hand the German Democratic Republic on 7 October in East Berlin. 3 years later, the GDR erects the first barriers on the inner-German border, a process that culminates with the construction of the Berlin Wall. • 1989: Tens of thousands East Germans take to the streets to fight for freedom and democracy. On November 9, citizens bring down the Berlin Wall, the symbol of years of division and Soviet oppression. • 1990: Germany celebrates reunification. For the second time in history, a German nation is established with Berlin as its capital.

13 (Eco) Tourism tips

The Black Forest in Southwestern Germany: located in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, this vast natural park is bordered by lots of trees, The valleys, lakes and mountains. Note that Triberg is the cuckoo clock capital of the north, and is famous for the country’s highest waterfalls. Another magical place is the area of cirque lakes, Black also often called “the dark eyes of the Black Forest”. According to legends, mermaids and nymphs are said to live in the lake. Forest

Saxon Switzerland is a national park located around the Elbe valley in the south-east of Dresden in Saxony, Eastern Germany. It is the place to be for climbers, with its four prominent rock formations: the Königstein, the Lilienstein, the Gohrisch and the Papstein. (Eco) Tourism tips

The Bavarian region also counts a lot of lakes and mountains. The natural lake Königssee is a popular hiking destination, especially known for its clear water and said to be the cleanest lake in Germany.

The Hartz

This time we're focusing on a natural park in northern Germany. Famous for its fairy-tale castles, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and monasteries from the Middle Ages, it is also a protected animal habitat. You will also be able to admire typical German architecture and learn more about the lives of miners by visiting the Rammelsberg mine in Goslar, protected by the UNESCO status along with the Old Town since 1992. 15 Fun facts

To continue with the intricacies of the German language: “Donaudampfschiffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunter beamtengesellschaft” is, according to the 1996 Guiness Book of World Records, the longest published word in the German language. It can be loosely translated as “Association for Subordinate Officials of the Main Maintenance Building of the Danube Steam Shipping Electrical Services.” The German language enables those who master it to build incredibly long and complicated words.

The city of Bielefeld offers €1 million for proof it doesn’t exist. The conspiracy theory saying that Bielefeld does not exist has become a running joke in Germany. Even Angela Merkel was sceptical of the city’s existence until she had to hold a speech in the fabled town in 2012. There are more bridges in Berlin than in Venice and more canals than in Amsterdam.

Te Christmas radition of utting a Christmas ree n he iving oom comes rom Germany and dates ack o he Middle Ages.

The zoological garden in Berlin is the biggest zoo in Europe. Tempelhofer Feld (Tempelhof Field)

Forget about your flight to Tempelhof. The old Berlin airport was decommissioned in 2008 and now serves as a park in the heart of Berlin. Grab a Fritz Cola and a döner and go bask in the sun.

The oldest brewery in the world is German and was founded in 1040 at the Weihenstephan Abbey.

There are around 1500 varieties of sausage and 300 varieties of beer in Germany.

There are over 25.000 castles in Germany, according to the estimations of the German Castle Association. 17 Some useful words

The German language is characterized by a number of words that do not have an equivalent in any other language.

“Ohrwurm” (Earworm) is a song that you can't get out of your head.

“Fremdschämen” describes the process of being vicariously embarrassed by someone else.

“Fernweh” is the longing for distant places.

“Schadenfreude” is deriving pleasure from someone’s misfortune.

“Sehnsucht” is the longing or yearning for idealized alternative experiences, such as a longing for real love, freedom of travel.

“Feierabend” is the word that is used to describe the end of the working day. UnBUNDling the German Presidency

According to the German Constitution, the exercise of state powers, the fulfilment of state tasks and the legislation are theoretically under the jurisdiction of the states. The Federal Government may only assume state powers, perform tasks or enact laws if the Basic Law expressly permits this. While in practice most of the legislative powers lie with the Federal Government, states’ influence should not be underestimated. The federal nature of Germany is key to understanding the country’s EU policies. The states have a constitutional codetermination right in the country’s EU affairs. The Federal Government is bound to inform the Bundesrat, the legislative body representing state interests at the EU level, when states interests are affected by European policy. Accordingly, each state has its own Permanent Representation in Brussels to ensure that its interests are represented at the EU level. A look at the buildings occupied by the different Permanent Representations gives an idea of the power they hold. The most prominent example is Bavaria’s Permanent Representation, a castle-like building located in the Leopold Parc only a few steps away from the European Parliament. While it is normal for the sake of simplicity to use expressions such as “Berlin has expressed its support for” or “Germany’s proposal” to describe and analyse German EU policy, it ignores the multiplicity of institutional actors involved and creates an illusion of alignment between the individual states’ and the federal government’s interests. This also ignores the fact that the states do not equally profit from the country’s integration in the European internal market. As a whole, Germany does indeed reap the greatest benefits from the internal market. However, upon closer scrutiny, these benefits are concentrated in the hands of export-oriented states such as Nordrhein Westfalen, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and often fail to reach the Eastern regions of Brandenburg, Sachsen-Anhalt or Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This has an impact on issues such as trade. The Western regions will be more likely to support lowering trade barriers while the governments of former East-Germany might prove more sceptical of new FTAs. Understanding the German presidency requires to keep the federal nature of the country in mind. UnBUNDling will thus be essential moving forward. Brussels office Rue de Trèves 55-57 - B / 1040 Brussels Tel. : +32 (0)2 289 67 20 Paris office 17, rue de Miromesnil - F / 75008 Paris Tel. : +33 (0)1 56 88 52 10 Berlin office Mauerstrasse 83/84 - D / 10117 Berlin Tel. : +49 (0)30 201 438 213 Marseille office 9, Quai Rive Neuve, Vieux Port - F / 13001 Marseille Tel. : +33 (0)4 91 90 14 52 www.arcturus­group.com