Berlin faces competing ‘visions' of EU presidency

Berlin’s ruling centre-right and centre-left coalition is divided over priorities for Germany’s EU presidency next year.

Angela Merkel’s “grand coalition” of Christian and social democrats have differing ideas for a German EU presidency that begins on January 1 2007.

Setting out her aims in a speech last Friday, Merkel stressed that the EU close its door to new members “at least for a measurable time”.

She also argued that “only economic upswing is a basis for a sustainable EU” as Germany prepares to lead to debate on Europe’s institutional future.

According to Merkel, Germany’s EU presidency will consist of two core phases in the first half of 2007.

Until March 2007 debates on reforming economic and social policies and reducing red tape change will top the agenda.

Phase two will follow the 50th birthday of the EU, celebrated in Berlin on March 25, and will herald debate on Europe’s future after French referendum rejections of the European constitution in 2005.

But Germany’s Social Democrats are sounding a different note during a parliamentary congress this week.

Germany’s Social Democrat foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will stress a stronger “social dimension” and a new “Ostpolitik” to tie Russia more closely to the EU.

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