“ (…)
The presidency wanted to find a joint strategy for dealing with China. Is that still realistic?
Because of the pandemic, we cannot hold the summit with China in September as planned. But we intend to hold it later. Its objective is to advance EU-Chinese relations. We share common interests, such as cooperating on climate action. We have been negotiating an investment agreement for some time but are not really moving forward on that. We should discuss our development policies in Africa, where China is following a different path in some areas.
At the same time, the summit is forcing us to develop a joint European position vis-à-vis China. That is no easy task. We should develop a policy that reflects our interests and values. After all, respect for human rights, the rule of law and our concerns about the future of Hong Kong stand between China and ourselves and are addressed openly.
Is China calling the western, democratic edifice of Europe into question?
We should start by doing everything we can to make ourselves more resilient. We need to stand together as Europeans, otherwise we will only weaken ourselves. China has become a global player. That makes us partners in economic cooperation and combating climate change, but also competitors with very different political systems. Not to talk to each other would certainly be a bad idea.
A no-deal Brexit is looming at the end of the year. Would that be a personal defeat for you?
No. It would, of course, be in Britain’s and all EU member states’ interests to achieve an orderly departure. But that can only happen if it is what both sides want. What matters is not our wishes but only the reality before us, in other words first of all what Britain wants. With Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the British government wants to define for itself what relationship it will have with us after the country leaves. It will then have to live with the consequences, of course, that is to say with a less closely interconnected economy. If Britain does not want to have rules on the environment and the labour market or social standards that compare with those of the EU, our relations will be less close. That will mean it does not want standards to go on developing along parallel lines.
We need to let go of the idea that it is for us to define what Britain should want. That is for Britain to define - and we, the EU27, will respond appropriately.
The United States has also been rushing to loosen its bonds with Europe. President Trump criticises Germany and wants to withdraw troops. Are you impressed by that threat?
We believe that the alliance is of great value to each of its members. We in Germany know that we have to spend more on defence; we have achieved considerable increases in recent years, and we will continue on that path to enhance our military capabilities. American troops in Germany help to protect not only Germany and the European part of Nato but also the interests of the United States of America.
Has the time come for the EU to gain strategic autonomy and actual sovereignty?
Look at the world; look at China or India. There are compelling reasons to remain committed to a transatlantic defence community and our shared nuclear umbrella. But of course Europe needs to carry more of the burden than during the cold war. We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a world power. Should the US now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply.
In eastern Europe in particular, the threat emanating from Russia is felt very strongly. Is Germany underestimating that threat?
We recognise misinformation campaigns; the weapons of hybrid warfare, as it is called, are part of Russia’s arsenal …
… even a murder, apparently …
… the murder in Berlin’s Tiergarten park is a serious incident, obviously, the blame for which is currently being ascertained in court. At any rate, we recognise hybrid warfare, methods of destabilisation, as a Russian behaviour pattern. On the other hand, there are good reasons to keep engaging in constructive dialogue with Russia. In countries like Syria and Libya, countries in Europe’s immediate neighbourhood, Russia’s strategic influence is great. I will therefore continue to strive for cooperation.“ [1]
© The Guardian
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[1] Exzerpt aus einem Interview mit dem Bundeskanzler der BRD vom 26. Juni 2020: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/26/for-europe-survive-economy-needs-survive-angela-merkel-interview-in-full