A short, but sincere and rather effective speech, rather than a long and passionate plea. German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent a 35-minute message on Tuesday in Strasbourg during a speech on the future of the EU. While the German leader announced that she would no longer run for the chairpersonship of her party, the CDU, in December and that she was accumulating difficulties at the national level, she was expected to make final European commitments. This was the case with its support for the project of a European army.
The Chancellor began by paying a vibrant tribute to European pluralism and diversity and to this desire to "always reach an agreement" together. Referring to the divisions that currently threaten the European project, the Chancellor reiterated how pluralism, but also the defence of freedoms and tolerance, "constitute the soul of Europe".
Citing all the upheavals surrounding the EU, both externally and internally, for example with the United Kingdom's exit, Angela Merkel wanted to put solidarity back at the heart of the European project, without which "no success is possible". Solidarity is an "indispensable condition for the functioning of any community”.
The Chancellor then went on to talk about the rule of law, saying that an EU country that questions these principles challenges them for all EU countries. Nevertheless, on the migration crisis before 2015, "Germany did not always behave as it should have; it took too long" to understand that the refugee crisis was "European and that it had to be addressed as such". Merkel also said that more efforts are now needed to help Africa.
A European army and a European Security Council
It is "important that we all help each other" and it is "together that this Europe is really strong and can defend its interests". The Chancellor has very concretely illustrated this idea by taking a stand in favour of a European army to be created. Mrs Merkel also called for a European Security Council with a rotating presidency. Soundly booed in the Chamber, she assured that this project was not in any way competing with NATO, but complementing it.
The Chancellor stressed that the EU alone must take its "fate into its own hands". It also stated that in defence matters, unanimity should be waived "where our treaties allow". "I don't see any contradiction with NATO at all," she replied to her critics. It is also logical to have a common arms export policy, she added.
However, with the exception of this 'military' rapprochement with Paris, the Chancellor has raised some hopes. On the reform of the euro zone, she reiterated her support for Paris in this approach, but did not give any specific indication.
The same goes for the tax on digital giants. Here again, the Chancellor expressed her wish that a solution be found at OECD level and, failing that, at European level, if nothing is possible at international level.
Later, in front of the deputies, she defended herself against these criticisms of ‘dancing about’ attributed to her. She amused herself with a certain gap between the absolute vision that MEPs want to follow and practical contingencies. For the Chancellor, it is imperative to find compromises and respect divergent opinions, especially those of her country. There is no other policy possible.
She said she was convinced that the EU is the place of the future and prosperity and that we must fight to defend it. The recent commemorative ceremonies of the First World War have sounded like a reminder. "That is why this opportunity cannot be missed; nationalism and selfishness must no longer have any hold in Europe."
Atlanticist and critical deputies
Heckled by some MEPs when she took a stance in favour of a European army, the Chancellor was also criticised for certain choices, among others, by the German leader of the S&D group in the European Parliament, Udo Bullmann, who lamented that Germany had been so harsh with Greece during the debt crisis and that this attitude had led to Greece being placed under the control of the Troika.
For his part, Belgian Guy Verhofstadt questioned her about the actions of Viktor Orbán, a member of his political family, which could lead to the relocation of the Central European University. These internal tensions in the EU "can be fatal for the EU", he warned. Germany's Ska Keller, co-president of the Greens/EFA, regretted that Germany is not ambitious enough on climate change.
Finally, her compatriot Gabi Zimmer (GUE/NGL) criticised this European army project. On migration, Gabi Zimmer welcomed the role of the Chancellor, who did the right thing by not closing borders at the time. But she also wondered why "you are now turning a blind eye to the dead in the Mediterranean". (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)