Euro-blogs - Mot-clé - Germany2024-02-07T15:02:46+01:00urn:md5:b213e54b8781eaa382c99815b0c732e9DotclearNational Interests versus EU law: Ausländermaut or the German tollurn:md5:4b7981582d9cfc8b32a7d1b22bfe2a992017-01-20T10:14:00+01:00Chloé Horiepolitiques européennesAngela MerkelBavariaCSUdiscriminationEU lawGermanynationalisationnationalismSPD
<p><a href="https://euro-blogs.eu/public/Photos_CH/image-1079033-860_galleryfree-pnen-1079033.jpg" title="image-1079033-860_galleryfree-pnen-1079033.jpg"><img src="https://euro-blogs.eu/public/Photos_CH/image-1079033-860_galleryfree-pnen-1079033.jpg" alt="image-1079033-860_galleryfree-pnen-1079033.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0 auto;" title="image-1079033-860_galleryfree-pnen-1079033.jpg, janv. 2017" /></a></p>
<p>Despite protests of the other European countries, Germany is pushing forward with its plan to introduce a highway toll only for foreigners. This idea was invented by the Bavarian Conservatives (CSU) for the national election in 2013 and became the most essential element of the campaign.
The CSU is the Bavarian sister-party of Angela Merkel’s CDU. Even though Merkel spoke out against the toll, the CSU made it conditional for their participation in the government. However, Merkel only accepted the plan of the toll, provided that the German drivers will not be charged with higher costs.
This condition seemed to be lethal for the toll: as soon as the government passed the law in 2015, the EU Commission took Germany to the European Court of Justice for discrimination of EU citizens. This gave Angela Merkel the possibility to suspend the law.</p>
<p>In order to bring the toll in accordance with EU legislation, the CSU created a scheme which split the law in two. The first law should introduce the toll on the German highways for everyone. In the second law, the German tax payers were supposed to get a reduction on their taxes for the same amount and only leave foreigners left paying for the toll.
However, the Commission rejected this idea as well, arguing that this construction still discriminates EU citizens.
Nevertheless, the German minister for traffic, Dobrindt (CSU) announced he managed to come to an agreement with the president of the Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.</p>
<p>In this new agreement, the old concept was modified in a way, that the tax reduction for Germans was transformed into a subsidy for environmental friendly cars, and foreigners have the possibility to buy a cheap short-term pass for driving through Germany.
Even though the Bavarian conservatives claim: “The tolls are coming!” and celebrate their victory against Berlin and Brussels, it is still not clear if the law will pass.
The Social Democrats (SPD) accepted the plan of a toll in order to form a government, yet it is very sceptic about the whole idea. It is most likely they will pay extra attention to the details of the new agreement before they agree. But the not only the SPD is sceptical. The German minister of finances, Wolfgang Schäuble (CDU), was rejecting the whole concept of the toll from the very beginning. Recently, he announced that his ministry calculated that the new concept of the toll will generate minus-revenue: it will cost the state more money than it would general.
The CSU Minister of traffic appears to come to the same conclusion and stated he does not expect the tolls come into effect after national elections in the fall of 2017.
This statement and the timing of the announcement shows that the CSU plans to use the toll as topic during the national election this summer again and it is unsure if the next government will introduce the toll in the end.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the toll fits well in the political direction the CSU is heading. Angela Merkels sister-party is one of the harshest critics of her liberal refugee policy and is asking for a stronger protection of the national boarder.
In the end it does not matter if the toll is introduced. The new announcement of the Dobrindt is another step towards the renationalisation in Europe. Germany’s neighbour states are already organising themselves to react to the new development.</p>
<p><ins>Sources:</ins></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/bild-1123883-1079033.html" title="http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/bild-1123883-1079033.html">http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/bild-1123883-1079033.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/tolls-are-coming-to-germanys-autobahns/" title="http://www.politico.eu/article/tolls-are-coming-to-germanys-autobahns/">http://www.politico.eu/article/tolls-are-coming-to-germanys-autobahns/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/wolfgang-schaeuble-befuerchtet-ein-minus-bei-der-maut-a-1129812.html" title=" http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/wolfgang-schaeuble-befuerchtet-ein-minus-bei-der-maut-a-1129812.html">http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/wolfgang-schaeuble-befuerchtet-ein-minus-bei-der-maut-a-1129812.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.krone.at/oesterreich/kuhhandel-um-deutsche-maut-klagt-nun-oesterreich-weil-eu-einknickt-story-537611" title="http://www.krone.at/oesterreich/kuhhandel-um-deutsche-maut-klagt-nun-oesterreich-weil-eu-einknickt-story-537611">http://www.krone.at/oesterreich/kuhhandel-um-deutsche-maut-klagt-nun-oesterreich-weil-eu-einknickt-story-537611</a></p> Oettinger: Good enough to be EU Commissioner?urn:md5:9fa9fc47f685baf5496af30cb3328db92017-01-20T10:08:00+01:00Chloé Horiepolitiques européennesCommission européenneDemocracydiplomatie européennedémocratieEU CommissionEU ValuesEuropean UnionGermanyOettingerUnion européenne
<p><img src="http://www.cdtm.de/wp-content/uploads/11082375_10155576519125425_8336944095394948516_o-1170x707.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>The German EU commissioner obtains a promotion despite his racist, homophobic and misogynist statements and the allegations against him concerning illegal meeting with lobbyists.</p>
<p>Heretofore, Günter Oettinger was the commissioner for digital economy and society; he has been recently appointed to take over the prestigious office of budget and human resources and shall become Vice-president of the European Commission. In the light of recent events, this promotion is surprising and is met with important criticism.</p>
<p>In a scandalous speech, which was recorded and published by an auditor, Oettinger shows inappropriate behaviour and concerning thoughts on several points.</p>
<p>On the record, we can hear Oettinger mocking Chinese people, calling them “Schlitzaugen”, which is a racist description of Asian eyes, the equivalent of ‘chinky eyes’ in English. He then goes on and continues to make fun about the appearance a Chinese delegation he once met.</p>
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<p>In context of the competitive advantage of China towards Europe, Oettinger jokes about the quota for women in Germany.</p>
<p>As if this would not be enough, he philosophises about other ridiculous policies in his home country like the “mandatory-homo-marriage”.
These comments raise concerns about Oettingers world view, and question his ability to represent the values of the European Union.
Not only are these statements and world views unfit for one of the highest officials of the modern EU, but as the commissioner for human resources, Oettinger is also responsible for the compliance of ethical values of all EU employers. As such, the commissioner should act as a role model. When he was asked about his statements, he argued, that they were taken out of context and that he didn’t mean to be offensive.</p>
<p>Moreover, and to complete the picture, Oettinger does not take ethical roles too seriously, as the reports shows about his illegal meetings with Russian investors. Several newspapers reported the commissioner accepted a free travel to Hungary on board of a private airplane of Klaus Mangold, a lobbyist for Russian investments in the energy industry. According to the hungarian journalists, Oettinger used the trip to Hungary to talk with President Orban about the Hungarian energy policy and plans for a Russian constructed nuclear power plant. These plans are controversial due to the EU sanctions towards Russia. To avoid any conflicts of interests, the contact between the Commission and lobby groups is strictly regulated. However not only was the meeting not protocoled or listed, according to the ethic rules of the EU, but officials aren’t allowed to meet with non-registered lobbyist like Mr. Mangold.</p>
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<p>When Oettinger was asked by journalists about the non-respect of the ethic rules, he claimed, that these did not apply, because the rules only apply for meetings with lobbyists but not for joints journeys. If this definition represents the spirit of the ethic rules, this is highly questioning. Oettinger argued this way of travelling was the only possibility to get to Hungary in time without missing any appointments. This argument seems to be unlikely as well, as there were several planes connections between Brussels and Hungary at this day. Moreover, if possible, Commissioners can charter their own air planes for their journeys.</p>
<p>All these affairs raise serious questions about the appropriateness of Oettingers promotion. Taking into account that other Commissioners have questionable records as well, it might be unlikely, that the EU is able to fight the growing dissatisfaction and Euroscepticism in the population.</p>
<p><ins>Sources:</ins></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cdtm.de/wp-content/uploads/11082375_10155576519125425_8336944095394948516_o-1170x707.jpg" title="http://www.cdtm.de/wp-content/uploads/11082375_10155576519125425_8336944095394948516_o-1170x707.jpg">http://www.cdtm.de/wp-content/uploads/11082375_10155576519125425_8336944095394948516_o-1170x707.jpg</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/public-affairs/news/oettinger-finally-apologises-for-slitty-eyes-speech/" title="https://www.euractiv.com/section/public-affairs/news/oettinger-finally-apologises-for-slitty-eyes-speech/">https://www.euractiv.com/section/public-affairs/news/oettinger-finally-apologises-for-slitty-eyes-speech/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37822419" title=" http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37822419">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37822419</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/gunther-oettinger-defends-calling-chinese-slant-eyes/" title=" http://www.politico.eu/article/gunther-oettinger-defends-calling-chinese-slant-eyes/">http://www.politico.eu/article/gunther-oettinger-defends-calling-chinese-slant-eyes/</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsgbBYrGgSo" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsgbBYrGgSo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsgbBYrGgSo</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-verteidigt-schlitzaugen-rede-a-1118863.html" title="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-verteidigt-schlitzaugen-rede-a-1118863.html">http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-verteidigt-schlitzaugen-rede-a-1118863.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-eu-kommissar-wird-von-der-gratisflug-affaere-eingeholt-a-1122941.html" title="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-eu-kommissar-wird-von-der-gratisflug-affaere-eingeholt-a-1122941.html">http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/guenther-oettinger-eu-kommissar-wird-von-der-gratisflug-affaere-eingeholt-a-1122941.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/oettinger-flog-kostenlos-im-privatjet-von-mangold-nach-ungarn-a-1121488.html" title="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/oettinger-flog-kostenlos-im-privatjet-von-mangold-nach-ungarn-a-1121488.html">http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/oettinger-flog-kostenlos-im-privatjet-von-mangold-nach-ungarn-a-1121488.html</a></p>