The Banking Crisis
In his essay entitled The Banking Crisis, Alexander Privitera, Washington-based Special Correspondent for German news channel N24 and frequent AICGS contributor, explains how Europe’s fiscal problems are not just the result of a sovereign debt crisis, but also a banking crisis. Any solution for Europe must focus on the financial institutions across the continent just as much as the debt problems of a number of member states.
Buying Time
In his essay Buying Time, Dr. Tim Stuchtey, Managing Director of the Brandenburgisches Institut für Gesellschaft und Sicherheit (BIGS) and Director of the Business & Economics Program at AICGS, takes a look at the underlying issues of the current financial crisis in Europe and asks whether the current model in Germany can be repeated elsewhere within the euro zone.
What Can and Must EU Leaders Achieve Ahead of the G-20 Summit?
In his essay entitled What Can and Must EU Leaders Achieve Ahead of the G-20 Summit?, Peterson Institute for International Economics Research Fellow Dr. Jacob Funk Kirkegaard posits that there is no single answer to the multitude of problems currently facing Europe. However, the upcoming EU Summits must work to take a large step forward in correcting the fiscal situation by making a number of necessary changes.
Occupy Frankfurt?
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Jack Janes examines the growing dissatisfaction with policy-makers and financial institutions in dealing with the current economic crisis, and how this widespread sentiment is leading populations on both sides of the Atlantic to look for a multitude of ways to vent their frustration.
Long-Term Questions for Short-Term European Strategy
In a recent essay from the German Marshall Fund of the United States entitled Long-Term Questions for Short-Term European Strategy, author Joseph Wood takes a look at the wide array of commentary on the future of Europe sparked by the current crisis. While Europe struggles to find any short-term answers, they must capitalize on this opportunity to lay out concrete plans for the future of the euro, as well as the Union.
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Support Our WorkGermans Love Europe, but Not the Euro
In a recent Op-Ed from the New York Times entitled Germans Love Europe, but Not the Euro, former German Ambassador to the United States Wolfgang Ischinger explains how Germany’s reluctance to fully embrace the euro, along with their love of the status quo, has led to their slow efforts at fixing the Union’s crisis. For Chancellor Merkel to lead Europe out of this crisis, she will need to convince Germany that any rescue measures are not simply for the currency, but for the future of the entire Union.
The Upcoming Blame Game
In his essay entitled The Upcoming Blame Game, frequent AICGS contributor Alexander Privitera explores the finger pointing being used by leaders on both sides of the Atlantic in the face of the economic crisis. According to Mr. Privitera, with elections coming up in several countries, including the U.S. and France, not only could the transatlantic blame game get worse, but we may even witness a standstill in policy-making as a whole — the last thing a pair of faltering economies can afford.
The Dirty Secret of the U.S.-European Relationship
Underneath the cloak of a never-ending list of foreign issues lies the heart of the transatlantic relationship: trade. According to the essay The Dirty Secret of U.S.-European Relations by Jan Techau, Director of Carnegie Europe and a frequent AICGS program participant, this makes for a “boring” partnership, despite the general goodwill between both sides. However, with the economic crisis continuing to weaken the global positions of the U.S. and Europe, both sides will have to begin to build a more meaningful relationship to stave off their respective declines.
Germany’s Vote Does Not Equate to a Blank Check
In his essay entitled Germany’s Vote Does Not Equate to a Blank Check, frequent AICGS contributor Alexander Privitera explains that Merkel and her coalition survived the latest vote on the EFSF, but that the vote may signal a line in the sand for German assistance to profligate members of the euro.
Changing Transatlantic Equations
In his essay entitled A New Equation for the Transatlantic Alliance, recently published in the Strategic Europe essay series from Carnegie Europe, Executive Director Jack Janes looks at the unprecedented rise of a deeply integrated Europe, one that is still struggling to find its course within the context of the global stage. Amidst all the current debate about the euro, it is important not to lose sight of how far Europe has come despite the many challenges ahead.
Merkel’s Moment
In her article entitled Merkel’s Moment, originally published in the International Herald Tribune, Margarita Mathiopoulos, participant in AICGS events, suggests that it is time for Germany to come to terms with its leadership role in Europe. This realization, argues Ms. Mathiopoulos, begins with Chancellor Merkel’s willingness to lead Europe through its current crises.
Bundestag Approves Increase in EFSF Fund
There is an expression in German soccer that says: after the game is before the game. You may have won or lost one game but the next one is fast approaching, sometimes with little time to prepare…the German Bundestag was an important “game” for the Chancellor to prove that she has sufficient support to push her agenda forward.
