It is 23.14 clock on the night of Friday. The Chancellor, now in the dark suit, comes in brisk step to the press conference. It is in a good mood, the EU summit in Brussels is over. “This was a well-prepared, well-organized Council. We felt under the new Council President Donald Tusk very well and are finished before 24.00 clock,” says Angela Merkel.
The meeting of the 28 EU leaders ended a day earlier than planned. That has never happened before. That same night, drove most of the “bosses”, including Entourage home, while they had booked their hotels through Friday. Severe economic crisis in parts of Europe, the dispute with Russia, the fate of the Ukraine – all serious problems. Why EU leaders had so little to say? Why were all end up glad it was finally over
Very simple: there was nothing to decide. Merkel’s press conference splashed to himself. Only sometimes surprised the Chancellor with strange findings. When asked by a journalist whether it concealed tax agreements between companies and tax authorities, as in Luxembourg are in Germany, she said: “I’m not a judge, or a police officer all infractions comment, I can not..” Shortly before she had even brought the house down giggle. You missed the new EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini the beautiful name “Magerita Mogherini”.
Merkel holds sanctions against Russia the
Anything else? The Chancellor looks at present regardless of the decline of the Russian currency is no reason for the withdrawal of sanctions against Russia. “The sanctions are imposed for certain reasons, and they can only be removed by the elimination of these reasons,” Merkel said.
She emphasized the uniform line EU: “There were all agreed that the European Council, acting unanimously, as far as sanctions We want unity..” Is there really that unity? Externally, yes. But Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, a man of clear words, said: “The sanctions were a kind of self-defense, but there are some that make it a kind of religion..”
We have the summit, the Social Democrat further found again in a joint statement, the contrast between those for the sanctions made strong and those who want to show alternatives, but be clear. “There is not just one way that leads deeper and deeper -. There is also the other way leading out”
debate on financial assistance for Ukraine
Only on Thursday, the EU decided in Ukraine crisis new sanctions against the annexation of Crimea Russia. In future, any investment in the Crimea are prohibited, besides also applies even an export ban on goods for the oil and gas production and in the transport sector.
Specific new financial commitments to the danger of bankruptcy Ukraine did not exist. “We have discussed the financial support of Ukraine. We will send a strong signal of our willingness to do that,” said the head of EU leaders, President Donald Tusk. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had estimated the additional financial requirements to two billion euros.
Merkel made it clear that not talking about specific details of new EU aid was. The prerequisite for new capital injections were economic reforms and less corruption. “The EU will explore the how much MFA they contribute,” Long-term Strategy towards Russia declared the Chancellor.
<"prefix_1" h2 class => wantedTusk said:” Russia is our strategic problem “. A long-term solution to the conflict in Ukraine it will not give “a consistent strategy towards Russia” without. But how should look like this strategy? The EU is also disagree, especially countries like Poland and the Baltic states are pushing for a strong stance and harshness toward Moscow. But all also know that they finally have to do more than to be driving only by events.
So Tusk announced the summit a “special debate strategy towards Russia “at. Did it take place? If so, then everyone would have also consistently been silent – which is rare in Summit
Junckers investment plan comes
After all, a decision precipitated the “bosses” after all. They stood behind the multi-billion dollar investment plan Juncker. They welcomed the establishment of a new European Fund for strategic investments aimed at mobilizing a total of 315 billion euros over the next two years.
includes guarantees about the Fund and loss guarantees for private investors to take effect. So far, the fund is supplied from amounts from the EU budget (16 billion) and by the European Investment Bank (EIB). It is unclear how many states are willing to deposit additional money. Juncker had prompted.
It could then more investments are pushed, he argued. If the member countries to pay into the fund, so this will not be counted against the national budget deficits by the EU Commission. Despite this incentive but has so far only France announced deposits.
Berlin wants to wait and see how the Commission’s proposals exact look to the new Juncker funds. Merkel urges that above all future projects in the areas of research, digital economy and infrastructure are considered. Many countries, such as Hungary, the UK and Poland, but also want to promote nuclear energy – what there is resentment, especially in Austria
debate on financing of nuclear power on the Fund
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“We want to be involved in any way the fact that nuclear power plants are financed in this way,” said Chancellor Faymann. The Austrians remains skeptical about the project. “The devil is in the details – but you should not forget the positive things.” This includes loud Faymann – Merkel do not like to hear the – that no more saving is a priority. “Fortunately, here is a discussion turnaround happened,” summed up the Austrians.
It is unclear whether, despite warranties shall be sufficient private investors in the end, who are willing to to invest in public projects. There are fears that the returns might be too small. The EU Member States have in any case the Brussels Commission authority a wish list of more than 2000 projects passed that would like to have it financed by private investors. “If we could contribute to this fund to young start-up companies do not go to the US, then this fund would have triggered a huge boost in Europe,” the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz (SPD) said.
The summit also urged to conclude negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement with the United States TTIP in the course of next year. Success in this area is unclear. In Brussels there is some uncertainty to what extent US President Barack Obama still has an interest in the Agreement. Critics of the agreement are afraid of privatization in the water supply, railway and health. Commission President Juncker said: “general interest will not be affected by the water negotiations will not be privatized.”
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