Opinion: Wrong Signals on Religious Rights in Germany

Jonathan Laurence, Brookings Institute, September 20, 2012

Opinion: The Cologne court’s decision to halt non-medical circumcisions

Cathedral in Cologne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

earlier this summer marks a new low for religious freedom in 21st century Europe. It is the latest dip in a slippery slope that began with the condemnation of burkas and other forms of extremism but has landed squarely in the mainstream of religious practice… (more) http://ow.ly/2si1Th

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The Swiss illusion

By Hans Kundnani, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), September 19, 2012

At the end of last week I attended the Riga Conference, an annual Transatlantic foreign-policy conference that goes back to the 2006 NATO summit. For me one of the most extraordinary moments of the conference came during a panel discussion on the diminishing importance of Europe and the future of the West. The panelists included Julianne Smith, deputy national security adviser to US Vice President Joe Biden, and Hans-Friedrich von Ploetz, a former German ambassador to Russia and the UK. During the discussion, a member of the audience asked whether Europe might be becoming a greater Switzerland – rich but neutral and strategically irrelevant. Von Ploetz’s simple response was: “Switzerland is not such a bad country!”… (more)  http://ow.ly/1mwQeD

The future of Europe: It’s getting serious

Graphic “When Greece falls” presented by Dutch government on 21 June 2011, speaking of European sovereign debt crisis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ulrike Guérot, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), September 19, 2012:

The third year of the euro crisis might be the most important one yet – and with Germany heading for elections next September things are getting serious. In year one of the crisis (2010), Germany was lost and without a strategy, lurching through the events more than being in control. In year two of the crisis (2011) we observed a subtle U-turn und more decisive actions to safe the euro. But the German strategy was not the ‘big bazooka’, but a step-by-step pragmatic approach which certainly disappointed the Anglo-Saxon world. The strategy may be incomplete and flawed especially with respect to the pro-cyclical and painful effects of austerity policy in the South: but it is also true that we see the first signs of success… (more) http://ow.ly/1mwJBn

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Despite Crisis, Majority of Germans Remain Positive About Euro

German Marshall Fund of the United States, September 18, 2012

In this video, Transatlantic Academy Executive Director Stephen Szabo analyzes the results of the recent Transatlantic Trends Survey that show Germans remain positive about the euro and the EU, despite continuing economic struggles among members.

http://ow.ly/1mvyZ5

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The German Constitutional Court and the ESM: What happened?

ECFR: The German Constitutional Court and the ESM: What happened? http://ow.ly/1mpJDT

German top court backs euro bailout fund

Friends Of Europe: German top court backs – Germany’s top constitutional court has rejected calls to block the permanent 500 billion euro Europe http://ow.ly/1mpsgu

German Constitutional Court and the European Bailout Fund

Bundesverfassungsgericht, Karlsruhe (Photo credit: Al Fed)

European Inst: German Constitutional Court and the European Bailout Fund (9/11) http://ow.ly/1moNYo

The ESM and the German Constitutional Court

European Council on Foreign Relations: The ESM and the German Constitutional Court: Towards a new constitution? http://ow.ly/1mir5I

European Union Common Security and Defence Policy

This map represents notable regional organisations related to collective security, also known as military alliances. NATO, CSDP SCO, CSTO PSC SADC (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Luis Simón and Jolyon Howorth, European Geostrategy, September 4, 2012  
(Over the next few months the editors of European Geostrategy will undertake a number of interviews with various individuals who are involved in thinking about European foreign, security and military policies. In this third interview in the series, Luis Simón discusses European relations with the United States with Jolyon Howorth, the Emeritus Professor of European Studies at the University of Bath, and long-time analyst of the European Union’s efforts to forge a common military policy.)

(more) … http://ow.ly/1mhljS

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Germany’s Pivot to China

Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Elizabeth Pond, World Policy Institute, August 31, 2012

Six decades after post-Hitler Germany outsourced its foreign policy to its Western allies, Berlin is again a diplomatic powerhouse. This week Chinese leaders and Syrian rebels alike are attesting to Berlin’s clout… (more) http://ow.ly/1mecSq

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