The new German government, to be led by the social democrat @OlafScholz, has just published its coalition agreement.
At 178 pages it will take a while to analyse. Many interesting points.
Here’s what it says about the fundamental issue for all on this continent: Europe. /1.
TL;DR Germany will double down on a federal European state, with strategic sovereignty, more autonomous in technology, energy, health, raw materials & regulation, & a global leader.
Key text (my English translation) follows. /2.
“We will use the Conference on the Future of Europe for reforms. We support necessary treaty changes.
“The conference should lead to a constitutional convention & to the further development toward a federal European state, which is decentrally organised … /3.
… according to the principles of subsidiarity & proportionality & is based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
“We want to increase Europe's strategic sovereignty. First & foremost, this means establishing its ability to act in a global context & be … /4.
… less dependent & vulnerable in important strategic areas such as energy supply, health, raw material imports & digital technology, without isolating Europe.
“We will better protect critical technology & infrastructure, align standards and procurement … /5.
… accordingly, & initiate a European open source 5/6G consortium.
“We will protect European companies better against extraterritorial sanctions.
“We want to make Europe a continent of sustainable progress & lead the way internationally. /6.
“With European standards, we set benchmarks for global regulations”.
You can claim it won’t work.
You can claim it will & you don’t (or do) like it. /7.
What you can’t do, if you claim to be a credible leader in Europe & the world, is pretend this isn’t the agenda.
Or that, in the face of it, Britain can “win” through the magic of Brexit.
The Johnson-Frost Brexit is a losers’ charter.
Talk to Olaf. /8. End
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The coalition agreement of the new German govt, to be led by @OlafScholz, addresses border control:
“Free movement of people is one of the EU's key achievements. Defending those & making them fair is important to us.
“We want to restore the integrity of the Schengen area … /1.
… & make exemptions to its rules more restrictive & not implemented without consulting our European partners.
“In the future expansion of the Schengen area, we want to pay particular attention to compliance with the rule of law & humanitarian standards in addition to … /2.
… the existing security criteria.
“We want Frontex to develop into a real EU border protection agency, founded on human rights & the mandate it has been given.
“The goal must be effective external border protection based on the rule of law, which is transparent & … /3.
The new German government to be led by @OlafScholz says in its coalition agreement, published earlier:
“We are committed to a common European policy towards the UK & are striving for close bilateral cooperation within this framework. We insist on full compliance … /1.
… with the agreements that have been adopted, in particular with regard to the Northern Ireland Protocol & the Good Friday Agreement. In the event of non-compliance with the agreed standards & procedures, … /2.
… we expect a consistent application of all agreed measures & countermeasures”.
The German car-makers will be along in a moment. /3. End
- since 2010 central government funding for English local authorities has fallen from 2/3 of their revenues to 1/5;
- social care is a fundamental need for those whose circumstances require it, when they require it, for as long as they require it. /1.
@Mandoline_Blue Like high quality healthcare, it should be provided according to need, free at the point of use. It should be neither a postcode lottery nor a “privilege”. That can only be achieved by parliament and central government mandating it and paying for it. /2.
@Mandoline_Blue The exact mechanism by which payment happens and the functioning of the system is overseen can be discussed.
This should really be for the UK as a whole, not just England. But messing around with the devolution settlement would cause other problems. /3.