Germanys Role and Importance in Todays European Union - Assignment Example

Germany’s Role and Importance in today’s European Union Germany runs the European Union effectively and advances national interests on a continental scale. She is the founder member of the European Union and has 27 member states. Due to Germany’s recent economic success, the country owns its current position. The main objective of the European Community is to develop the economic integration of Western Europe. Germany in collaboration with other European countries plays a big role in changing attitudes to Europe. Germany is the second largest country that exports products. It has used the institutions and practices of the European Union to sustain the demand for their products. Germany has allowed other Euro based states to access credit at low interest rates. By this, it encouraged demand for its exports by providing lending practices that the states were not able to account. Germany is concerned with the role of European central bank in the management of debt crisis. The German government in the secondary market purchases has backed the European Central Bank. German economists openly criticized the move. Germany has received accusations for its monetary policies despite its solutions to the euro crisis, trade imbalances, and its rigid legal approach to treaty change. However, Germany lowered the social security contributions and raised VAT; France perceived this as a poor policy because exports became cheaper while imports dropped. This was an attempt to measure and improve the supply of goods and boost economic growth and development. The cut in social security contributions in Germany improved the supply of goods. Germany believes in budget consolidation where governments reduce their expenditure and increase tax. She therefore requested the European states to control their spending. This was encouraged to have a reduction in future bankruptcy. Concurrently, the government spends less and there is a reduction of debts. The embassy of Germany in other European Union state negotiates by lobbying governments, influencing Germans public and explaining the position of the country. The EU affairs offices coordinate these activities where the officers follow the policies of the union in their host country and report on the positions and focus of the European policy. In addition, the EU coordination group provides comprehensive vital information to the EU affairs officers. Germany has played a role in foreign policy by moving away from the old civilian power model. Additionally, the leadership, international and economic issues do not overlap member states and can occur and vary as per the issue at stake. Foreign policy is difficult to measure and maximize due to the loyalty of member states to national choices. It is an advantage for the small member states to share their national priorities for the EU. Moreover, the small states are willing to follow Germany in adapting and accepting limitations of national authority. The EU provides a through way for a global outreach. Through the EU, countries that have foreign policies and focus on their own region have an advantage of having good relations with the other countries of the world. Germany has placed more emphasis on regulatory policy, such that their European counterparts often determine and interpret the economic policy rules and schemes. The aim of the policy was to have addressed the international law and the principles of the republican constitution. The regulatory policy is capable of bringing together participants to the implementations of applicable rules. Most EU member states who want a common currency are not willing to accept any mechanisms or coordination of their financial policies for the stability of the economy. This has not worked due to the presence of the Eurozone (Schweiger p. 20). German and other European countries on the other hand have failed to show respect for the past rules, but are now among the stable countries of the Eurozone. The lack of stability, culture is often lamented by Germany is one explanation of the crisis. Another role that Germany plays is enlarging the EU to include countries like Turkey. This has united rather than divide the union. Germany has reduced the amount of money it was giving to Brussels in the past. Additionally, the bigger states are likely to stop enjoying the national discounts (Welfens, p. 23). According to the EU, there are no substantial returns that flow into Germany from either structural or agricultural resources. Through having a connection between democracy and sovereignty, the court identified some responsibilities of the specific areas of the state that the European Union cannot touch. This is to ensure that Germany is still able to determine its own cultural, economic, and social life. In addition, the court raises the issue of sovereignty in relation of national law over Europe. All EU member states have made predominance of the English language. However, European countries with large languages like Spain and France have the problem having English dominate the region. Germany has been eager to promote English in their own country. In 1937, English upgraded partly for racial reasons to replace it with French as the first foreign language in schools. In addition, the English language had a role in the EU and countries that had English as their first language were advantageous in the various economic, cultural, and social settings. There was an argument that it was easier for the EU members to have a single working language. The main reason is to have English become a property of the non-natives. The EU employs thousands of translators who help the parliamentary in translating debates and formal meetings as well as communicating with other states in writing (Miskimmon, p. 16). Germany is among the countries that have reduced significantly the use of energy. This has led to a rise resource productivity per year. There would be economic benefits like the creation of jobs, improved development rate, and improved resource productivity. Moreover, there is a high demand for techniques that increase productivity or one that eases the transition to an economy that produces lower carbon. Germany and six other countries like the Netherlands and Belgium signed the treaties of Rome that aimed at centralizing control of the previously national coal and steel. There was the creation of a single European act that aimed at improving areas ranging from protection, economic issues, and social development. In addition, Germany has always been willing to pay for European compromises and to put aside its national interest for the good of the integration process. The interests of Germany and Europe characterized European disclosure. The 50th anniversary of the treaty of Rome took place during the German presidency and to commemorate it, the Berlin summit of 2007 attempted to deliver a declaration that suggested the need for a new attempt of political legitimacy (Welfens p. 30). Germany has played a role in enlarging the East and most have supported the move, although Germans worry that the identity of the EU may vanish through further enlargement. Moreover, in Germany there are reports that regions that are enlarging have concrete effects. For example, research shows that petrol stations in the east are more expensive compared to those of the neighboring countries. Construction workers have to compete against cheap labor from Poland. The positive effects of enlargement include Germany is able to cross the border easily and shop cheaply. There is a possibility of outsourcing cheaper labor from other countries. Enlargement to the east has led Germans to debate about Europe having definitive borders. The agreement dealing with European policy ensures Germany has greater responsibility on the international scene. The policy insists on the parameters that are traditional on Germany’s foreign policy. A huge number of policy makers that in matters of security policies have emphasized and have the European security and defense policy a marginal role embrace the move. The presidency of German EU plays a role in reshaping the parameters of European policy and at the same time, the European projects have been unfavorable. German civil servants attempted to lower the expectations to end during the EU presidency in January 2007 (Feldman, p. 9). Being the largest country in Europe with its double policy orientation, it is the most important presidency. In addition, Europe plunges into a deep constitutional crisis provoked by France. In conclusion, Germany is one of the rich countries in the EU. It has a huge task of saving Europe with the expectation of contributing to save the countries that have a debt crisis. Germany is struggling with its own national matters such as economic growth and its responsibilities in the EU. German leadership has determined the selection of policies in the EU. The Europe program contributes a more informed disclosure among policy makers. Europe is in Germany’s interests because she wants to make Europe a vibrant continent. The integration process is a basis for ensuring that Europe is a continent rich in prosperity, peace, and security. It has focused on developing the Western Europe economies by strengthening and promoting trade among the founder nations. Work cited Feldman, Lily Gardner. Germany and the European Union: Its Role as Architecht in the Shaping of Political Union. Berkeley: Center for German and European Studies, U of California, 1996.Print. Top of FormBottom of FormMiskimmon, Alister. Germany and the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union: Between Europeanisation and National Adaptation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Print. Top of FormBottom of FormRegional Development in Europe: An Assessment of Policy Strategies. Luxembourg: EIB, 2000. Print.Top of FormBottom of Form Schweiger, Christian. Germany and the Future of the European Union. Basingstoke [England: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. PrintTop of FormBottom of Form Welfens, Paul J. J. Energy Policies in the European Union: Germanys Ecological Tax Reform.. Berlin: Springer, 2001. Print Read More