Thursday

28th Mar 2024

UK hoping to find German support on EU reforms

Britain is hoping to find a compromise with Germany on the reform of Europe's institutions. According to the Independent, the German chancellor Gerhard Schröder has promised in a low-key meeting to support Tony Blair's model.

The German foreign minister Joschka Fischer has opposed the British plans, as he wants to give more power to the European Commission rather than to the European Council. However, after a meeting with the UK Premier Tony Blair in London, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is now said to support the British and French ideas, the Independent reports.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Germany's foreign minister is pushing for the idea of one person to be the head of the European Commission and European Council, which would give more power to the Commission. Britain on the other hand wants to strengthen the Council and the national governments. Britain is quite confident of winning the support for Blair's model, as French president Jacques Chirac is already backing the idea.

According to the Guardian, the British Europe minister Denis MacShane had recently a private meeting with Mr Schröder and earlier this week he was confident enough already to attack Fischer publicly. Mr MacShane accused Germany of wanting an all-powerful "kaiser" at the top of the European Union.

Germany wants EU "kaiser" says British Europe minister

The British Europe minister Denis MacShane has accused Germany of wanting an all-powerful "kaiser" at the top of the European Union. In an interview with the Financial Times Mr MacShane attacked the German proposal for a much stronger head of the European Commission, saying that this would decrease the importance of national governments.

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us