The spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing global lock-down as governments try to slow the spread of the corona virus has tested individuals and institutions around the world. Since March of 2020, the ACG has stepped up its digital programming by hosting webinars and video discussions which bring together policy makers and thought leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss some of the key issues shaping transatlantic relations in an unprecedented time. In addition to organizing events on its own, the ACG has also partnered with other organizations such as 1014 and Atlantik-Brücke to launch new series designed to reach beyond the ACG community.
Each week, the ACG hosts a Kaffeepause – or coffee break – on Clubhouse and Zoom. Journalists are invited to discuss the headlines and breaking news in Berlin. On May 3, the ACG hosted Melissa Eddy, Berlin Correspondent for the New York Times, who discussed developments in the political parties of Germany.
In what was described by some observers as Europe’s “Hamiltonian moment,” last July the European Union’s 27 member states agreed to raise 750 billion euros through the European Commission to address the economic crisis which was sparked by the coronavirus. The debt-financed stimulus package has to be ratified by each national parliament – and 478 out of 645 German lawmakers supported the bill. But, in late March the EU’s Recover Fund hit a roadblock after the German constitutional court raised questions about how new debt is being taken on. The court determined that the Federal President may not sign off on legislation ratifying the European recovery package. It could take up to three months for the court to decide on this matter.
On April 30, the ACG hosted a discussion with economic policy experts Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther, the Director and Member of the Executive Committee of the German Economic Institute, and Prof. Dr. Monika Schnitzer, Professor of Economics and Chair of Comparative Economics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich.
With the election of Joe Biden, there is a window of opportunity to renew constructive dialogue on improving European-U.S. trade that can strengthen relations and set a path to closer cooperation in the future. Even before assuming his new role as Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said that one of the first steps to be taken by the Biden administration would be to “end the artificial trade war” between Europe and the United States. In early March, we started seeing signs of this intent in action. But, more needs to be done – and Germany can play a critical role in further strengthening the transatlantic economy.
Last month, AmCham Germany published a position paper on what a new agenda for the transatlantic trade and investment partnership can look like. And, earlier this month it also released its annual Transatlantic Business Barometer. On April 28, the ACG hosted a conversation with Daniel Andrich, the General Manager of AmCham Germany, regarding these two publications and an assessment of how Europe and the U.S. can work together to craft a new agenda for the transatlantic trade and investment.
Earlier this year, President Biden declared at the Munich Security Conference that “America is back!” Since coming into office, the Biden administration has returned to the Paris Climate Agreement, entered talks regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and demonstrated its interest in renewing the United States’ relationships with allies.
This is a historic/pivotal time for strengthening the transatlantic alliance and addressing NATO’s common problems, but we also face challenges and potential pitfalls. On April 27, the American Council on Germany and Atlantik-Brücke hosted a discussion with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Philip T. Reeker, followed by a discussion moderated by Dr. Anna Sauerbrey, who heads the opinion pages of Der Tagesspiegel and Tagesspiegel Causa.
Each week, the American Council on Germany hosts a discussion with a Berlin-based journalist on the latest developments in Germany. On April 26, the ACG hosted a “kaffeepause,” or “coffee break” with Matthias Deiß (2008 ACG Young Leader), Editorial Director of ARD-Politikmagazin Kontraste, who discussed the impact of the pandemic on the upcoming elections in Germany.