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Faltering Hegemon: Why Discontent With German Leadership is Mounting in EU

© REUTERS / Ina FassbenderA carnival float with papier-mache caricatures mocking Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is displayed at a postponed "Rosenmontag" (Rose Monday) parade, at one location in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 13, 2016
A carnival float with papier-mache caricatures mocking Bavarian Governor Horst Seehofer and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is displayed at a postponed Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) parade, at one location in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 13, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Discontent with German leadership is growing among the members of the European Union. Previously, many European countries supported Germany strengthening its positions in the bloc but now the situation is changing.

In late-May, the Financial Times published an article with the headline "Germany is the eurozone’s biggest problem." According to the newspaper, Germany’s EU allies are increasingly wary of Berlin’s political course.

The fact that Germany is the most powerful country among the 28 EU members is often considered the main problem. Previously considered key players, France and Britain, are now losing their positions. France is plagued with domestic issues and Britain is on the verge of leaving the EU.

As a result, Berlin has become the "political capital" of Europe, putting Paris, London and even Brussels on the backburner.

Crises and Sanctions

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The fact that Germany dictates its decisions to other EU members became visible during the Cyprus financial crisis. At the time, Berlin actually forced the Cyprian government to change its economic policies.

But this was only the beginning. In fact, Germany proved its uncompromising leadership during the Greek crisis when Chancellor Angela Merkel and German banks imposed their will on the government of Alexis Tsipras.

Subsequently, economically troubled South European nations worry that they would share the fate of Greece. Their discontent is growing over Berlin’s calls for austerity measures.

As for anti-Russian sanctions, Germany has adhered to the same stance. Sanctions are damaging the economies of such countries as Greece and Hungary, which if they could, they would ease or even lift the sanctions. However, they cannot stand against Berlin which wants the sanctions to remain in place.

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What is more, traditional German allies in Europe are also discontent over its dominance in the EU.

"Germany does not have the right to decide on the business model for other countries in the EU," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn recently told Reuters.

The main reason for concern is that Germany is perceived as ruling the bloc with its own interests and in the interests of German businesses. Thus, the paradigm of Germany’s role in the EU has shifted, Dmitry Suslov, an analyst at the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics (HSE), told Lenta.ru.

"Berlin artificially maintains a weak euro as well as austerity measures in Greece. At the same time, Germany keeps Athens in the eurozone because this is good for Berlin’s exports-oriented economy," he explained.

© REUTERS / Kai PfaffenbachProtesters depicting Statue of Liberty (L) and Europa on the bull take part in a demonstration against Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit in Hanover, Germany April 23, 2016.
Protesters depicting Statue of Liberty (L) and Europa on the bull take part in a demonstration against Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit in Hanover, Germany April 23, 2016. - Sputnik International
Protesters depicting Statue of Liberty (L) and Europa on the bull take part in a demonstration against Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade agreement ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit in Hanover, Germany April 23, 2016.

Germany has also been an avid supporter for the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The controversial deal would be beneficial for German companies seeking to enter the US market. Other countries like France or Italy have protectionist economies. They are opposing the agreement.

Migrant Problems

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The migrant crisis is another major challenge for unity among the EU nations. The problem is that Germany is situated in the middle of the continent and according to the current norms and rules, country members should deal with migrants on a national level.

Having proclaimed an open door policy, the German government understood that there a number of well-educated and qualified people among the refugees from the Middle East. They usually buy a plane ticket and travel directly to Germany. Meanwhile, uneducated people desperately try to reach Italy and Greece via the Mediterranean Sea, creating problems for those countries.

At the same time, Berlin said that migrants are a common problem for the entirety of Europe. This means that even those countries opposing the open door policy should take part in tackling the crisis and so a quota program was developed.

© AFP 2023 / DPA/Bernd Von Jutrczenka Asylum seeker (C, L) takes a selfie picture with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C, R) following Merkel's visit at a branch of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and a camp for asylum-seekers in Berlin on September 10, 2015.
Asylum seeker (C, L) takes a selfie picture with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C, R) following Merkel's visit at a branch of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and a camp for asylum-seekers in Berlin on September 10, 2015. - Sputnik International
Asylum seeker (C, L) takes a selfie picture with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C, R) following Merkel's visit at a branch of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and a camp for asylum-seekers in Berlin on September 10, 2015.

The quota program backfired though, as it was decreed by Germany and was not generally accepted. Western and Central European countries refused to implement it, protesting against Berlin’s policy.

In addition, due to the migrant influx many European countries have strengthened border controls, challenging one of the EU fundamental principles – visa-free travel.

No Alternative

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Nevertheless, Germany’s political and economic leadership in the European Union is shaky. After two world wars, Germany had to abandon its global political ambitions.

The European model included France as the political leader and Germany as the key economic player. But after France began to lose its political power Germany had to take a leading role.

"Germany lacks leadership skills. Berlin rather has the fear of being a leader, taking into account its history. An attempt to establish hegemony by any EU state would provoke a conflict within the bloc," Timofei Bordachev, director of the Center for European and International Studies at the HSE, said.

"Berlin doesn’t feel comfortable in the leading role. And it would prefer not to play this role because its ambitions revives Europe’s past fears," Alexander Kokeev, an expert in international relations at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said.

Nevertheless, there are no alternatives for German dominance in Europe now. There are relevant reasons behind its leadership, including its economic power and the absence of capable alternatives among other EU nations. This is unlikely to change and so Germany’s leading position in Europe will most likely strengthen.

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