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The corona crisis gave Angela Merkel a fresh breath in her own country. The German chancellor is now also ready to set Europe on dry land. She takes the lead in all important files, from Brexit to the recovery policy. The new Merkel is coming.
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In Meseberg Castle, near Berlin, Merkel receives her first foreign visitor after the lockdown on Monday evening: French President Emmanuel Macron. The Franco-German engine is back in full swing since the two agreed on a European recovery fund of 500 billion euros. This subsidy fund is intended to avoid an uneven recovery in Europe after the Covid crisis.
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Officially, the reason for the consultations is the start of the German EU presidency. From next Wednesday, July 1, Germany will take over the reins of the European consultation for six months. It will be a hellish ride. In addition to the ‘ordinary’ legislative work, the endgame of Brexit and the puzzle with European priorities and cents for the coming years are also on the agenda. Two divisive files for Europe.
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That is exactly why Merkel himself sits behind the wheel. She realizes that she has to put her weight in the fight for the survival of Europe. The corona crisis has made her understand that the internal market and even the European Union may fall over. The next six months will be decisive.
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Most powerful woman
Merkel has been the most powerful woman in Europe for 15 years. The Federal Chancellor knows her files. She plays a mediation role behind the scenes but never in charge. German dominance evokes too many angry memories in Europe. In European consultations, she was often the inhibitory factor, who ‘noticed’ for a long time about how to proceed and turned the bulky German tanker far too late.
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But the corona crisis resulted in a reborn Merkel, who falls back on her scientific roots. She remains pragmatic and with her feet on the ground. She explains calmly and patiently every step of containing the contamination wave. Confidence in the chancellor is again high.
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The corona crisis resulted in a reborn Merkel, who falls back on her scientific roots.
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In the same technocratic way, she now explains that ‘Europe needs us as much as we need Europe’. She describes the coronavirus as ‘the greatest challenge in European history’. And by coinciding German and European interests, she prepares the population for her new European mission, her legacy.
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Against that background, the meeting between Merkel and Macron in Meseberg must be seen. Two years ago, a weakened Merkel stepped in the same spot in Macron’s plan for a stronger Europe and its own budget for the eurozone. Now the roles are reversed. Merkel is at the wheel of the French-German motorcycle.
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Merkel turns 66 on 17 July. But she will celebrate her birthday in Brussels with the other European leaders. Merkel is going to ‘throw herself’. She wants an agreement on a European recovery fund and a multi-year budget for seven years, together worth 1,850 billion euros. She has a direct line with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The common front will be set up with Macron on Monday. And she already telephoned the Dutch Prime Minister and sleeper Mark Rutte. If someone can convince Rutte, it is Merkel. Her pragmatic approach and the constant care not to cause anyone to lose face are solid assets.
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Brexi
British politicians have always included the Merkel factor as a plus. They have been convinced since the Brexit referendum four years ago that Berlin, with Europe in its wake, will be tackling the final negotiations for a new trade agreement. London highlights the German industrial interests, especially those of the car industry, as a game changer.
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But that British view is a misconception. The Brexit drama of the past four years has mainly taught Merkel and the other leaders how important the European internal market is. Putting that large market on the line would be far more damaging than the lack of a new cooperation agreement with London, the new ‘no deal’. Moreover, it is not Merkel who is leading the Brexit talks, but European negotiator Michel Barnier. Those command lines were reconfirmed this week by the 27 member states.
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The Little Steps Europe remains the trademark of Angela Merkel.
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London now seems like a wake-up call. Intensive Brexit consultations are planned throughout July. A final compromise, possibly in October, needs the approval of the Member States. Merkel can play a role. A phone call from Merkel to Prime Minister Boris Johnson will put more ground than an initiative of anyone in Europe.
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The conference on the future of Europe is also on the European agenda. Merkel will go full throttle here too, not to create a federal Europe, but to empower Europe in areas such as health care and industrial policy. In short: the Europe of the small steps, the trademark of the old and the new Merkel.
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