Auslandsinformationen 2015 (Jahresregister)

Europe in Crisis

When we began planning this issue in mid-August last year, the third bailout package for Greece had just been approved and Europeans were on tenterhooks about the “euro crisis”, a term that had come to symbolise the financial and debt crisis. Hardly anyone would have thought at that time that the EU could enter a totally different crisis within just a few weeks – a crisis of unprecedented magnitude.

"Small" States in International Politics

Helmut Kohl once expressed one of the fundamental principles of his European policy as follows: “The small countries in the European Union deserve as much respect as the large ones. The significance of a Member State cannot be measured by the size of its population or the square kilometers it occupies.” While Kohl was concerned with Europe, of course the principle applies beyond its borders.

Towards a New Development Agenda

How many refugees can and should Germany accept? How can an equitable sharing of the burden in Europe be organised? And what will be the consequences of the influx of hundreds of thousands of people on the cohesion of the societies affected? These are just some of the many questions that are currently occupying the minds of politicians, businesspeople and society in Germany and Europe in equal measure. However, there is another aspect that is not receiving much attention and that Chancellor Merkel therefore made a point of emphasising during a speech on the occasion of the UN Development Summit in New York.

International Reports 8/2015

The world is complicated and full of contradictions, which occasionally forces people to relinquish supposed certainties and revise old prejudices. There are also prejudices circulating vis-à-vis Africa. Former German President Horst Köhler once referred to this succinctly when he said: "Where Africa is concerned, many people think mainly of words beginning with a "c": crises, conflict, catastrophes, chronic diseases, corruption…". Of course, this is only half the truth.

Security Policy and Resolution of Crises

Assuming responsibility in the world cannot be limited to the military sphere. Of course Germany must be prepared to fulfil its responsibilities towards its allies and deploy soldiers if the need arises. In light of the international threats, Germany must not abdicate its responsibilities in this area. But assuming responsibility means more than that.

Contemporary Conflicts and Value-Driven Policy

Along its southern and eastern periphery, in the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, the European Union is confronted with violent conflicts, which also have implications for the future of Germany and Europe. The situation is reflected not least in the current refugee crisis, which is putting the EU member states severely to the test. The war in Ukraine represents one further situation where solidarity is required. In this context, the European partners are called upon to support the government in Kiev in implementing its political and economic reforms.

Transatlantic Relations

The transatlantic relations are characterized by close political and economic cooperation as well as intense cultural exchange. While a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) would enable us to actively shape the future world economic system in our sense, current political challenges require permanent dialogue between the transatlantic partners.

Germany and Israel. 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations

50 years on from the agreement sealing the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel, relations between the two countries are in a state that seems almost a miracle. What started out as tentative political “probing” between Germany and the young State of Israel has developed into a stable foundation. It remains an important task not only to deepen the cooperation, but to open up new fields of bilateral collaboration.

Migration and Refugees

Migration is a ubiquitous process in our globalized world. People are leaving their home countries aiming for better economic perspectives. Others are forced to do so because of political persecution or conflicts. A forward-looking migration policy based on humanitarian principles is in need, which is also appealing to the political responsibilities of decision makers in the countries of origin.