The time has come to punish Orbán, says the next German government – Politico

German vote

More broadly, the coalition negotiators have promised to play a more proactive role on the European scene using the Weimar triangle – a loose alliance of France, Germany and Poland – as a vehicle to shape EU policy. Within the framework of the government of previous coalition led by Olaf Scholz of the SPD, the relationship of Germany with France and Poland has deteriorated.

“In the Weimar triangle, we will seek close coordination on all relevant European policy issues in order to act more united in the service of the EU as a whole,” reads the draft agreement, echoing the previous declarations made by the Chancellor entering Merz, who said he would go to Paris and Varsaw on his first day of function.

The conservatives also promised to resolve a complaint concerning Germany frequently heard in European capitals: the abstention of Germany in votes on important EU issues, ironically called “German vote”.

When the German ministries themselves disagree on EU policy, the country, as a rule, abstains from EU votes. Merz, however, promised that there would be no such German abstentions with regard to key votes in Brussels under his direction.

But its conservatives and the SPD do not agree on how to get there. The conservatives want Merz to have a greater word to say in the position of Germany with regard to the votes of the EU of major importance by “taking responsibility for the coordination from the start or by taking charge during the procedure”. The SPD, on the other hand, wants to adhere to the “interministerial principle”, resolving disputes between the ministries.

The draft agreement on the government’s positions on the EU comes from one of the 16 intermediate working groups created to develop positions in key areas. Friday afternoon, the main politicians undertook final negotiations to assemble a unified coalition agreement based on the drafts of working groups.

A final coalition agreement can happen in mid-April.