Tuesday

6th Jun 2023

German coalition talks drag on

  • The Bundestag. Germany has been waiting for a government since the 24 September elections (Photo: Pxhere)

German Christian Democrats and Social Democrats were still negotiating in the early hours of Wednesday (7 February), in order to conclude an agreement for a 'Grand Coalition' for the next four years.

"Progress is snail's pace," the Social Democratic Party (SPD) vice president Ralf Stegner admitted on Tuesday evening.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

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

... or subscribe as a group

As a 167-page draft agreement was already ready, the last sticking points were on labour and health policies. The two parties had to overcome differences in particular on job contracts and doctors tariffs in the public and private sectors.

Early on Tuesday, chancellor Angela Merkel said that everyone had to make "painful compromises" in order to form a "reliable government".

The agreed chapters of the coalition agreement include a focus on the digitalisation of the economy, social policies, migration, energy and climate, and education and training.

Germany's EU policy is the first chapter, under the title "A new start for Europe".


Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the SPD pledge to "deepen" Europe's "cohesion and mutual solidarity".

They insist on the necessity for Germany and France to "work together will all their power" for the renewal of Europe.

They indicate that they want to "strengthen" Europe's investment capacities.

But they add that a future investment budget for the eurozone could be possible only after "specific budget resources" are used for "economic stabilisation, social convergence and support to structural reforms" in the eurozone.

They insist "stability and growth" and "risk and responsibility" are linked to each other and call for more "fiscal control and economic coordination" in the EU and the eurozone.

The coalition partners support the creation of a European Monetary Fund under control of EU and national parliaments.

They express their will to fight tax dumping and money laundering. They also call for a "fair taxation" of big companies, in particular internet firms like Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

Ahead of the negotiations for the EU budget after 2020, the coalition partners support a "strong EU cohesion policy in all regions".

And they say that they "want to preserve the important cohesion funds" but warn that "the UK exit has to be taken into account."

"It's the most Europeanised approach of a German government for years," said Bernd Huetteman, a political scientist and vice-president of the European Movement.

"It is a big step that the parties gave European affairs a priority in the coalition treaty. This is far more than symbolic," he told EUobserver.

He noted that the SPD "gave a big push" during the talks, but that "for sure there is a big grand coalition" of Brussels, Berlin and Paris already behind the doors."

'Germany is back in Brussels'

Huetteman said that while the German coalition insists on the community method defended by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, French president Emmanuel Macron will also find encouragement in the agreement.

"For sure Macron can use the text for his purpose too. He opened the door and the French public will love it," he said.

"Germany is back in Brussels again, but it will be an Franco-German commission-backed strategy. Not sure how the rest of Europe will digest it," he added.

If and when the CDU and SPD finalise their coalition agreement, a last and difficult hurdle will have to be passed.

The deal will have to be agreed by SPD members. Many of them are opposed to participating in a new coalition with Merkel, after the last one ended up with the worst electoral result ever for the SPD.

Since early January, more than 24,000 new members have joined the SPD, raising fears that they did so in order to block the party from going into government again, despite weeks of difficult talks.

German coalition deal aims for 'Macron-lite' EU renewal

Merkel and Schulz clear the first hurdle of coalition talks, but the SPD's full membership backing is still needed. The likely coalition parties express support for Macron's eurozone reform ideas, but remain cautious.

Merkel defends her coalition government

The German chancellor admitted that the agreement with the social-democrats was "painful" but "acceptable", and insisted she wanted to stay in power for four years.

German 'GroKo' now in SPD's hands

The result of the Social Democrats members' vote on a new grand coalition with Merkel's Christian Democrats will be known on Sunday. A 'Yes' is expected across Europe.

Column

In 2024, Europe's voters need to pick a better crop of MEPs

At 2024's European Parliament elections, the stakes will be very high. A lot has happened in the last four years. In 2019, there was no pandemic, no war in Europe and no johnny-come-lately countries demanding a seat at the table.

Latest News

  1. No clear 'Qatargate effect' — but only half voters aware of EU election
  2. Part of EU middle class 'being squeezed out', MEP warns
  3. Migration commissioner: Greek pushback film 'clear deportation'
  4. In 2024, Europe's voters need to pick a better crop of MEPs
  5. ECB president grilled over €135bn interest payout to commercial banks
  6. EU political ads rules could be 'hotbed for retaliatory flagging'
  7. Final steps for EU's due diligence on supply chains law
  8. Top EU court rules Poland's court reforms 'infringe law'

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. InformaConnecting Expert Industry-Leaders, Top Suppliers, and Inquiring Buyers all in one space - visit Battery Show Europe.
  2. EFBWWEFBWW and FIEC do not agree to any exemptions to mandatory prior notifications in construction
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us