Germany's New Cabinet on Turkey's EU Accession: Implications for U.S
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H.E. Ms. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Addresses 100Th International Labour Conference
H.E. Ms. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Addresses 100th International Labour Conference In the first ever visit of a German Chancellor to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), H.E. Ms. Angela Merkel today addressed the Organization’s annual conference. Speaking to the historic 100th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) Ms Merkel highlighted the increasing role played by the ILO in closer international cooperation. The G8 and G20 meetings would be “unthinkable without the wealth of experience of this Organisation”, she said, adding that the ILO’s involvement was the only way “to give globalization a form, a structure” (In German with subtitles in English). Transcription in English: Juan Somavia, Director-General, International Labour Organization: “Let me highlight your distinctive sense of policy coherence. Since 2007, you have regularly convened in Berlin the heads of the IMF, World Bank, WTO, OECD and the ILO, and urged us to strengthen our cooperation, and this with a view to building a strong social dimension of globalization and greater policy coherence among our mandates. These dialogues, under your guidance, have been followed up actively by the ILO with important joint initiatives with all of them, whose leaders have all addressed the Governing Body of the ILO. You have been a strong voice for a fairer, more balanced globalization in which much needs to be done by all international organizations.” Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany: “Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice.” This is the first sentence of the Constitution of the ILO and I also wish to start my speech with these words, as they clearly express what the ILO is all about and what it is trying to achieve: universal peace. -
Press Release
PRESS RELEASE CHAIRPERSON PING CONCLUDES A ONE DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO GERMANY Berlin, 5 July, 2011: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Jean Ping, paid an official visit to Berlin on 5 July, 2011, at the invitation of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. This visit took place on the eve of the Chancellor’s trip to three African countries, namely Kenya, Nigeria and Angola. Chancellor Merkel and Chairperson Ping had extensive discussions on issues of mutual interest, including Libya, Sudan and other situations on the Continent, as well as bilateral cooperation between the AU and Germany. The Chairperson briefed his interlocutor on AU’s efforts to find a political solution to the Libyan crisis on the basis of the proposals contained in the Draft Framework Agreement endorsed by the Malabo Summit. The Chairperson also stressed the encouraging developments in Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan and the need for adequate international support to assist these two countries and consolidate the gains made. On her part, Chancellor Merkel emphasized the importance Germany attaches to the AU and its key role in promoting peace, security and development in Africa. She pledged continued support to the AU’s efforts aimed at achieving these goals. The Chairperson also met the Federal Foreign Minister, Dr Guido Westerwelle, and the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Mr. Dirk Niebel. Discussions with both Ministers focused on several political and economic issues of mutual interest. It is worth mentioning that Germany is providing significant support to AU Commission in different areas, including peace and security, governance and democracy and development, as well as capacity building. -
To Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel C/O Minister of Finance Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble C/O Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel
To Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel c/o Minister of Finance Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble c/o Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel Dear Chancellor Merkel, We, the undersigned organisations from [XX] European countries are very grateful for your commitment to the financial transaction tax (FTT) in the framework of Enhanced Coopera- tion. Like you, we are of the opinion that only a broad based tax as specified in the coalition agreement and spelt out in the draft of the European Commission will be sufficiently compre- hensive. However, we are concerned that under the pressure of the finance industry some govern- ments will try to water down the proposal of the Commission. Particularly problematic would be to exempt derivatives from taxation or to tax only some of them. Derivatives represent the biggest share of transactions on the financial markets. Hence, exemptions would lead imme- diately to a substantial reduction of tax revenues. Furthermore, many derivatives are the source of dangerous stability risks and would be misused as instruments for the avoidance of the taxation of shares and bonds. We therefore ask you not to give in to the pressure of the finance industry and to tax deriva- tives as put forward in the draft proposal of the Commission. The primacy of politics over financial markets must be restored. In addition we would like to ask you to send a political signal with regard to the use of the tax revenues. We know that the German budget law does not allow the assignment of tax reve- nues for a specific purpose. However, you yourself have already stated that you could envis- age the revenues being used partly to combat youth unemployment in Europe. -
JOINT M Welcome to the New Issue of Joint MAG
Issue 3/ 2009 November Editorial JOINT M Welcome to the new issue of Joint MAG. This time, we discuss the frica recent federal elections in A Germany, which have brought about a new coalition government between the Christian Democrats ermany and the Liberal party. Far from G being a complete reflection, we focus on the path that German and Germany's Development Policy After the Elections: African relations might take in the What Does the Future Hold? realm of "high politics". Enjoy reading and feel free to discuss by Ilka Ritter, Germany further and provide feeback on the articles. For the outsider, German development cooperation can be a confusing subject due to the multitude of actors involved. The Ministry for Economic Best, Cooperation and Development (BMZ) defines the fundamental principles of Dennis Kumetat and Linda Poppe German development policy and participates in international fora. The BMZ, however, does not implement development programmes. This is done by the German development bank (KfW), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), German Development Service (DED), Capacity Building International Call for Contributions to the (InWent) and various faith-based or political organizations. Feburary issue of JointMAG The Rights of Women and Like any other institution, BMZ has proven to be resistant to change: The last Children Social Democrat/Conservative coalition government had far-reaching plans Based on our overview from the 2nd about merging the two biggest players KfW and GTZ. However, the plans issue of JointMAG, we will dedicate never materialized. Just before the elections in September, rumours about the Feburary issue to the rights of the future of German development policy were floating around. -
The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development
The Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development 2 “The central challenge in develop- ment cooperation is and remains for the state, businesses and society to work together to provide impe- tus to people in partner countries to help themselves. We can achieve this if we cooperate globally to bring about a shift away from short-term crisis management and towards a strategy of sustainable development. Local populations need to muster the creative power to make the most of their potential. The members of the Committee put their confidence in committed people who work to create a decent future in their home countries.” Dr Peter Ramsauer, CDU/CSU Chairman of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development 3 The German Bundestag’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab- lished at the start of each elec- toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon- sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively. The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia- mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. -
Ostracized in the West, Elected in the East – the Successors of the SED
Volume 10. One Germany in Europe, 1989 – 2009 The Red Socks (June 24, 1994) The unexpected success of the successor party to the SED, the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), at the ballot box in East Germany put the established (Western) parties in a difficult situation: what response was called for, ostracism or integration? The essay analyzes the reasons behind the success of the PDS in the East and the changing party membership. The Party that Lights a Fire Ostracized in the West, voted for in the East – the successors to the SED are drawing surprising support. Discontent over reunification, GDR nostalgia, or a yearning for socialism – what makes the PDS attractive? Last Friday, around 12:30 pm, a familiar ritual began in the Bundestag. When representative Uwe-Jens Heuer of the PDS stepped to the lectern, the parliamentary group of the Union [CDU/CSU] transformed itself into a raging crowd. While Heuer spoke of his party’s SED past, heckling cries rained down on him: “nonsense,” “outrageous.” The PDS makes their competitors’ blood boil, more so than ever. Saxony-Anhalt votes for a new Landtag [state parliament] on Sunday, and the successor to the SED could get twenty percent of the vote. It did similarly well in the European elections in several East German states. In municipal elections, the PDS has often emerged as the strongest faction, for example, in Halle, Schwerin, Rostock, Neubrandenburg, and Hoyerswerda. A specter is haunting East Germany. Is socialism celebrating a comeback, this time in democratic guise? All of the Bonn party headquarters are in a tizzy. -
Paper: the Political Economy of Germany in the Sovereign Debt Crisis
The Political Economy of Germany in the Sovereign Debt Crisis Daniela Schwarzer German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) Paper prepared for Resolving the European Debt Crisis, a conference hosted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Bruegel, Chantilly, France, September 13-14, 2011. 1. The German Economic Situation Economic Growth Perspectives and Employment After the downturn in 2008–09, there has been a strong economic recovery in Germany in 2010 and the first half of 2011. But in the context of an economic deceleration expected for the OECD countries, also the German economy will probably slow down considerably in the second half of 2011 and in 2012. Export growth is likely to weaken as key export markets cool down, partly due to fiscal tightening in Germany’s main trading partners. Export growth scored a high 14.4 percent in 2010 and is likely to decelerate to 8 percent in 2011, as a consequence of fiscal tightening and the flattening of the stock cycle in most major markets. Meanwhile, import growth is expected to decrease from 12.8 percent in 2010 to a still strong 6.6 percent in 2011. Domestic demand is also expected to decline as consumers and business are becoming more cautious. Private consumption growth is forecast to accelerate to 1.6 percent in 2011 from 0.4 percent in 2010, but will then stay at around 1.4 percent on average in 2012 to 2015. Employment is expected to expand which will support domestic demand, but real wages are expected to grow only slowly. -
Veranstaltungsbeitrag Solms
BERICHT Adenauer-Forum Diskussion mit dem Vizepräsidenten des Deutschen Bundestages, Dr. Hermann Otto Solms MdB Am Montag, den 12. November 2012, 18 Uhr im Europabüro der Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung Brüssel „Europa in der Krise – Grenzen und Chancen der Integration“ lautete das Thema des Adenauer-Forums. Als Gastredner war Dr. Hermann Otto Solms MdB angereist. Was können wir tun, um gemeinsam die gegenwärtigen Herausforderungen in Europa zu meistern? Wo liegen Grenzen der Integration? Wo kann die aktuelle Krise wiederum eine Chance darstellen, einen neuen Weg einzuschlagen? Schon der Tag, an dem die Veranstaltung statt fand, zeigte beispielhaft, wie es um Europa steht: Die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel war nach Lissabon gereist, um mit den dortigen Politikern über die Situation des Landes zu sprechen. Damit sorgte sie, zumindest bei einigen Portugiesen, für Aufregung. Im Vorfeld wurde protestiert, viele Portugiesen fühlen sich als Marionetten der Europäischen Union. Portugal steht nicht allein da, in Griechenland ist die Situation ähnlich. Die Kontrolleure der Troika haben kurz vor Beginn des Treffens der Euro- Finanzminister in Brüssel ihren Bericht zur Haushalts- und Schuldenlage in Griechenland vorgelegt. Dabei bescheinigten die Experten dem Land allenfalls eine leichte Besserung der wirtschaftlichen Situation. Reden wir heute über Europa, geht es um Rettungsschirme, Hilfspakete und Bankenunion. Dabei wird vergessen, um was es bei Europa ursprünglich ging: Um ein einzigartiges Friedensprojekt. Genau dafür werden die Bürger Europas mit dem Friedensnobelpreis ausgezeichnet. Heute sei die Situation jedoch eine andere als nach dem Krieg, sagte Solms. Wir müssten uns mit den praktischen Fragen der Europäischen Einigung auseinander setzen. Nach innen müsse Europa sich weiterentwickeln als Bündnis souveräner Staaten. -
Plenarprotokoll 16/220
Plenarprotokoll 16/220 Deutscher Bundestag Stenografischer Bericht 220. Sitzung Berlin, Donnerstag, den 7. Mai 2009 Inhalt: Glückwünsche zum Geburtstag der Abgeord- ter und der Fraktion DIE LINKE: neten Walter Kolbow, Dr. Hermann Scheer, Bundesverantwortung für den Steu- Dr. h. c. Gernot Erler, Dr. h. c. Hans ervollzug wahrnehmen Michelbach und Rüdiger Veit . 23969 A – zu dem Antrag der Abgeordneten Dr. Erweiterung und Abwicklung der Tagesord- Barbara Höll, Dr. Axel Troost, nung . 23969 B Dr. Gregor Gysi, Oskar Lafontaine und der Fraktion DIE LINKE: Steuermiss- Absetzung des Tagesordnungspunktes 38 f . 23971 A brauch wirksam bekämpfen – Vor- handene Steuerquellen erschließen Tagesordnungspunkt 15: – zu dem Antrag der Abgeordneten Dr. a) Erste Beratung des von den Fraktionen der Barbara Höll, Wolfgang Nešković, CDU/CSU und der SPD eingebrachten Ulla Lötzer, weiterer Abgeordneter Entwurfs eines Gesetzes zur Bekämp- und der Fraktion DIE LINKE: Steuer- fung der Steuerhinterziehung (Steuer- hinterziehung bekämpfen – Steuer- hinterziehungsbekämpfungsgesetz) oasen austrocknen (Drucksache 16/12852) . 23971 A – zu dem Antrag der Abgeordneten b) Beschlussempfehlung und Bericht des Fi- Christine Scheel, Kerstin Andreae, nanzausschusses Birgitt Bender, weiterer Abgeordneter und der Fraktion BÜNDNIS 90/DIE – zu dem Antrag der Fraktionen der GRÜNEN: Keine Hintertür für Steu- CDU/CSU und der SPD: Steuerhin- erhinterzieher terziehung bekämpfen (Drucksachen 16/11389, 16/11734, 16/9836, – zu dem Antrag der Abgeordneten Dr. 16/9479, 16/9166, 16/9168, 16/9421, Volker Wissing, Dr. Hermann Otto 16/12826) . 23971 B Solms, Carl-Ludwig Thiele, weiterer Abgeordneter und der Fraktion der Lothar Binding (Heidelberg) (SPD) . 23971 D FDP: Steuervollzug effektiver ma- Dr. Hermann Otto Solms (FDP) . 23973 A chen Eduard Oswald (CDU/CSU) . -
Rede Des Vorsitzenden Der CDU/CSU-Bundestagsfraktion
Bericht des Vorsitzenden der CDU/CSU-Fraktion im Deutschen Bundestag Volker Kauder, MdB Volker Kauder (mit Beifall begrüßt): Herr Tagungspräsident! Liebe Delegierte! Liebe Parteifreundinnen! Liebe Parteifreunde! Vor knapp einem Jahr hat das britische Magazin „Economist“ mit einer großen Geschichte über Deutschland aufgemacht. „Warten auf ein Wunder“ lautete die Überschrift. Der Bericht war düster. Man traute unserem Land nichts zu. Am vergangenen Freitag titelte die „Bild“-Zeitung auf der ersten Seite „Neues Wirtschaftswunder“. Der Bericht strotzt vor Optimismus. Von Bedenken keine Spur mehr. So schnell können sich die Zeiten ändern. So schnell ändern sich die Zeiten, wenn die Union im Bund wieder regiert, liebe Freundinnen und Freunde. (Beifall) Deutschland wird seit einem Jahr von der Union regiert und schon geht es wieder aufwärts. In diesem einen Jahr verzeichnen wir eine Wende zum Besseren. Wer hätte daran im November 2005 geglaubt? Bereits nach zwölf Monaten bewahrheitet sich ein Satz, mit dem wir in den vergangenen Jahren in vielen Ländern Wahlkampf gemacht haben, den die Menschen als richtig erkannt haben und der nun auch im Bund gilt: Dort, wo die Union regiert, geht es aufwärts. Dort, wo die Union regiert, geht es dem Land und den Menschen einfach wieder besser. (Beifall) Es wird wieder investiert in unserem Land. Die Zahl der Arbeitslosen ist zurückgegangen. Noch vor einem Jahr haben wir plakatiert: Jeden Tag gehen 1 000 sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigungsverhältnisse verloren. – Jetzt ist genau das Gegenteil zu registrieren: Jeden Tag entstehen 1 000 neue sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigungsverhältnisse. Die Bundesagentur für Arbeit meldet 825 000 offene Stellen. Der Beitrag zur Arbeitslosenversicherung wird Kommentar [jg1]: Anfang 2007 um 2,3 Prozent gesenkt. -
Germany's Flirtation with Anti-Capitalist Populism
THE MAGAZINE OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY 888 16th Street, N.W. Suite 740 Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: 202-861-0791 Blinking Fax: 202-861-0790 Left, www.international-economy.com Driving Right B Y K LAUS C. ENGELEN ecent rhetorical attacks against interna- tional corporate investors from the top echelons of Germany’s governing Social Democratic Party, coupled with the crashing defeat of the Red-Green coalition in the latest state elections and the German chancellor’s unexpected move to call a national election a year Germany’s flirtation with earlier than scheduled—all these developments can be seen as Rpart of an “end game” for Gerhard Schröder and the Red-Green coalition. anti-capitalist populism. In a major speech on the future SPD agenda at the party headquarters on April 13, party chairman Franz Müntefering zoomed in on “international profit-maximization strategies,” “the increasing power of capital,”and moves toward “pure cap- italism.” Encouraged by the favorable response his anti-capi- talistic rhetoric produced among party followers and confronted with ever more alarming polls from the Ruhr, he escalated the war of words. “Some financial investors spare no thought for the people whose jobs they destroy,” he told the tabloid Bild. “They remain anonymous, have no face, fall like a plague of locusts over our companies, devour everything, then fly on to the next one.” When a so-called “locust list” of financial investors leaked from the SPD headquarters to the press, the “droning buzz” of Klaus C. Engelen is a contributing editor for both Handelsblatt and TIE. -
Political Scandals, Newspapers, and the Election Cycle
Political Scandals, Newspapers, and the Election Cycle Marcel Garz Jil Sörensen Jönköping University Hamburg Media School April 2019 We thank participants at the 2015 Economics of Media Bias Workshop, members of the eponymous research network, and seminar participants at the University of Hamburg for helpful comments and suggestions. We are grateful to Spiegel Publishing for access to its news archive. Daniel Czwalinna, Jana Kitzinger, Henning Meyfahrt, Fabian Mrongowius, Ulrike Otto, and Nadine Weiss provided excellent research assistance. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Hamburg Media School. Corresponding author: Jil Sörensen, Hamburg Media School, Finkenau 35, 22081 Hamburg, Germany. Phone: + 49 40 413468 72, fax: +49 40 413468 10, email: [email protected] Abstract Election outcomes are often influenced by political scandal. While a scandal usually has negative consequences for the ones being accused of a transgression, political opponents and even media outlets may benefit. Anecdotal evidence suggests that certain scandals could be orchestrated, especially if they are reported right before an election. This study examines the timing of news coverage of political scandals relative to the national election cycle in Germany. Using data from electronic newspaper archives, we document a positive and highly significant relationship between coverage of government scandals and the election cycle. On average, one additional month closer to an election increases the amount of scandal coverage by 1.3%, which is equivalent to an 62% difference in coverage between the first and the last month of a four- year cycle. We provide suggestive evidence that this pattern can be explained by political motives of the actors involved in the production of scandal, rather than business motives by the newspapers.