Germany Drafts Outline of EU-U.K. Ties Post-Brexit, Paper Shows
Germany is working on proposals for the European Union’s future relations with the U.K. that include calls for a “comprehensive free-trade accord” with the British government, according to a draft paper prepared by the Foreign Ministry in Berlin.With EU leaders due to discuss Brexit at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, the document lays out […]
In Germany, a Victory for Angela Merkel and Populism
As anticipated, Angela Merkel’s party came in first in the German national election on Sunday, assuring her of a fourth term as chancellor. That much was foreordained, even if Ms. Merkel’s center-right Christian Democrats and their Bavarian allies came in slightly below expectations, with roughly a third of the vote.Ms. Merkel’s bland slogan — “For […]
Germany tries to defuse N.Korea tensions, praises China
Germany on Wednesday vowed to do all it could to defuse tensions between the United States and North Korea, lauding China’s role in pressuring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to delay plans to fire missiles towards the U.S. territory of Guam. But Berlin played down the idea that Germany could be a significant mediator […]
Top Merkel aide says Turkey’s conduct ‘unacceptable’
BERLIN (Reuters) – Turkey’s behavior is “unacceptable” and Germany has a duty to protect its citizens and companies but also wants to maintain strong ties with Ankara, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff said on Sunday. Relations between the NATO allies have deteriorated since Turkey arrested six rights activists, including one German, two […]
Germany warns citizens of Turkey risks amid arrests
The German government has warned its citizens and firms they face the risk of “arbitrary” arrest in Turkey. “People who are travelling to Turkey for private or business reasons are urged to exercise increased caution,” the German foreign ministry said. Firms face investment risks in Turkey because of Turkish legal deficiencies, the ministry said. Germany […]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel: US no longer a reliable partner
The partnership between Europe and the U.S. has been strained, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the day after President Trump returned from the G7 summit. “The times when we could fully rely on others are to some extent over — I experienced that in the last few days,” Merkel told her supporters, according to Bloomberg. […]
Merkel and Macron agree to draw up roadmap to deeper EU integration
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Monday to draw up a roadmap to deeper European Union integration and opened the door to changing the bloc’s treaties to facilitate ambitious reform. A day after Macron’s inauguration, the two leaders struck a consensual tone in Berlin after talks in which they […]
France’s Macron calls for ‘historic reconstruction’ of Europe
France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, has called for a “historic reconstruction” of Europe, saying it is “the only reaction” to fight populism. Speaking in Berlin on the first full day of his presidency, he was joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She said the pair had a “joint conviction” that they needed to “deepen the […]
Netanyahu will skip talks if German minister meets left-wing group
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday threatened to cancel a meeting with Germany’s foreign minister if he sits down with a left-wing rights group, an Israeli official said. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel was due to meet with “civil society” groups on Tuesday, said a spokeswoman in Berlin who declined to identify the groups. […]
Germany warns Turkey not to ‘end the European dream’
Germany on Monday warned Turkey against further distancing itself from Europe by reinstating the death penalty after a disputed referendum and urged authorities to seek “respectful dialogue” to heal a divided society. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that if Ankara were to bring back the death penalty, the move would be “synonymous with the end […]