During her presentation on the evening of Wednesday 27 May of Germany's foreign policy priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2020, Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed the hope that Europe will be able to “come out of the crisis stronger than it went into it”.
Speaking in an online debate organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, she emphasised the EU's “solidarity” and “responsibility” at a time when “the pandemic is going to lead to an intensification of existing conflicts and problems in a number of places”. The Chancellor discussed dialogue with the United States, “which is not as we might want it to be”, and “constructive criticism” aimed at Russia, and focused on dialogue with China (see other news).
The summit with Beijing, which is due to take place in Leipzig on 14 September, is still one of Merkel's international priorities. The Chancellor highlighted the EU's attachment to the principle of “one country, two systems”, at a time when a Chinese security law is calling Hong Kong's autonomy into question (see EUROPE 12492/19), and placed particular emphasis on the “strategic interest” of dialogue.
Germany is still hoping to conclude, by the end of the year, the “very ambitious” bilateral investment agreement, the negotiations for which continued remotely during the pandemic (see EUROPE 12475/14).
Merkel also hopes to make progress with dialogue on climate issues and address “transparency issues” with regard to health. She noted in passing that the pandemic has revealed the need for transparency.
The fourth issue that the Chancellor hopes to address in the dialogue with China is Africa. She explained that it is essential to agree on “common criteria” for development in Africa and to reaffirm “European values”.
Germany has not yet decided whether the EU/China summit should still go ahead, or even whether the meeting should take place in a person or by videoconference. Doubts are growing in Germany, however.
In a statement released on Thursday, 28 May, the German Industrial Federation (BDI) noted that “German industry is watching the political and social tensions in Hong Kong with concern”. However, Gyde Jensen (FDP), the liberal chair of the Bundestag Human Rights Committee, argued that the summit should go ahead and be used as a “lever”, adding that it was a matter of regret that the German reaction to the situation in Hong Kong had been “far too weak” (see EUROPE 12492/19).
German EU Council Presidency and European Parliament in agreement
Earlier in the day, the Chancellor and the German Finance and Foreign Ministers had held a video conference with the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament to present the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In addition to Europe's place in the world, the Presidency is expected to be committed to addressing the challenges related to the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and to focusing on the next multiannual financial framework and the recovery plan (see EUROPE B12494), including the EU’s own resources and the importance of the rule of law. Germany would also like to work on a green digital recovery and on migration and asylum, while the Commission’s proposal is expected in June. Negotiations with the United Kingdom will also be high on Berlin’s agenda.
According to a source in Parliament, these priorities received the support of the Conference of Presidents. Ahead of the meeting, the Greens/EFA and S&D groups had emphasised the issues of a social Europe and the Green Deal. (Original version in French by Nathalie Steiwer with Camille-Cerise Gessant)