German European Policy: Between Pragmatism and Europeanisation

Abstract

German European policy has undergone a substantial change since the mid
1990s. It has often been labelled as "normalisation", "pragmatisation", or
even as "de-Europeanisation". The article argues that while there has been
little change in the programme of the Angela Merkel government
compared to the former SPD-Green coalition, shifts in the institutional setup, "Brusselisation" of the top ranks of the state administration and
improvement in the economic performance of Germany may prove
politically significant. So far, the change in the style of the German policy
has been the most visible: while pragmatic regulative polices continue,
Berlin focuses its constitutive politics more on strategic issues viewing this
phase of the EU development as critical. In the run-up to the German EU
presidency Berlin's policy has become more EU-partisan focusing on the EU
Constitution Treaty in particular, as well as, seeking and offering more
leadership in EU affairs than before.