“Brexit” the German Left stands for Merkel – The World

Le Monde | 25/06/2016 at 11:21 | By Frederick Lemaitre (Berlin correspondent)

Are there any social democratic response to the crisis in the European Union? Sigmar Gabriel, President of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), and Martin Schulz (SPD also), President of the European Parliament, are trying to answer in the affirmative and thereby stand out from Chancellor Angela Merkel. They published, Friday, June 24, a text entitled “Rebuilding Europe” in which they emit ten proposals.

At the institutional level, they want the Commission in Brussels to become a “true European government “ checked by both Chambers, the European Parliament and a meeting representing the Member States. Moreover – and this is the heart of the document – the two men advocate a “turning of economic policy” and “pact for growth” in Europe. They hope in particular that the current stability and growth pact puts more emphasis on the latter aspect and less on the first.

For a “European FBI”

the two leaders also argue for a strengthening of the common foreign policy and a more aggressive fight against tax havens and tax evasion. In terms of security, they evoke a “European FBI” and genuine cooperation among States against terrorism. Finally, they recommend a “common immigration policy” , control of external borders of the European Union also common (but they do not say how to get there) and “effective protection fundamental rights “ including the publication of a ” European charter of fundamental rights adapted to the digital age ‘.

Read our analysis: the European solitude Merkel

According to the German press, the German and French foreign ministers, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Jean-Marc Ayrault, who were to meet Saturday morning in Berlin with their colleagues Italian, Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg, should issue a joint statement which would incorporate some of these elements and insist on the importance of Franco-German couple to exit the current crisis.

If these proposals take largely on the ideas already discussed by the European social democracy in recent times, difficult not to see also taking anti-Merkel position. Friday, June 24, German Chancellor made it clear that in his eyes, an institutional reform of Europe was not topical.

In addition, knowing the political weakness of François Hollande and do not find themselves in the proposals of Nicolas Sarkozy – it received very discreetly Tuesday, June 21 – she does not intend to rely on the Franco-German motor in the coming months. Coincidentally, the Social Democrats insist on these two points.

However, note that the document of the two leaders of the SPD totally ignores a European defense. Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin is a real threat against which we must be firm while for the SPD, it is more urgent than ever to restore a relationship of trust with the Russian president.