Joschka Fischer: Germany Must Not Destroy the European Order for a Third Time
Joschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister and vice-chancellor from 1998 to 2005, was a leader in the German Green Party for almost 20 years.
Europe’s situation is serious – very serious. Who would have thought that British Prime Minister David Cameron would call on eurozone governments to muster the courage to create a fiscal union – with a common budget and tax policy and jointly guaranteed public debt? And Cameron also argues that deeper political integration is the only way to stop the breakup of the euro. And this from a conservative British prime minister! The European house is ablaze, and 10 Downing Street is calling for a rational and resolute response by the fire brigade.
Unfortunately, the fire brigade is being led by Germany, and its chief is Chancellor Angela Merkel. As a result, Europe continues to try to quench the fire with gasoline – German-enforced austerity – with the consequence that, in a mere three years, the eurozone’s financial crisis has become an existential crisis for Europe.
Let’s not delude ourselves: If the euro falls apart, so will the European Union (the world’s largest economy), triggering a global economic crisis on a scale that most people alive today have never experienced. Europe is on the edge of an abyss, and will surely tumble into it unless Germany – and France – alters course...