this post was submitted on 01 May 2026
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Germany’s climate U-turn is the worst possible response to the oil shock | Prices at the pump have leapt since the start of the conflict – but clinging to fossil fuels will only prolong the pain (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 1 day ago by HaraldvonBlauzahn@feddit.org to c/europe@feddit.org
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[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The EU doesn't need German leadership, the EU needs to finally agree on things without some countries blocking everything. The EU needs reforms, but as far as I remember Germany was in favour and even proposed a lot of reforms, things like two-speed EU.

[–] plyth@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The car industry could have gone electric in the 1970ies as a reaction to the oil crisis.

To me this looks like a pattern.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lys%C3%A9e_Treaty

However, after US President John F. Kennedy expressed his displeasure about this to the West German ambassador to the United States, the Bundestag ratified the treaty with a preamble which called on France and West Germany to pursue tight cooperation with the United States; the eventual admission of the United Kingdom to the EEC; the achievement of a free trade accord in the framework of the GATT; and for the West's military integration in NATO under US leadership.[10] This effectively emptied the Treaty of any sense (in Gaullist understanding) and put end to General de Gaulle's hopes of building the EEC into a counterweight to the US and the USSR. "The Germans are behaving like pigs. They are putting themselves completely at the Americans' service. They're betraying the spirit of the Franco-German Treaty. And they're betraying Europe."[11] Later, in 1965, the General told his closest aides behind closed doors: "The Germans had been my greatest hope; they are my greatest disappointment."

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 3 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

If someone talks about "failed German leadership in the EU" I'm not thinking car industry.

[–] plyth@feddit.org 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Germany supported the oil industry against its own interests. Can you expect leadership to independence from a country that has chosen to remain dependent on oil in the past?

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Well, I don't want German leadership of the EU. The EU isn't the fourth Reich.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 1 points 22 hours ago

I think the paradox here is that two-speed EU would solve the problem of countries like Hungary blocking important decisions but at the same time it would allow Germany and France to sidestep opposition from smaller members and give them even more power. I don't think Germany would agree to any reforms that would diminish their power. It's a interesting topic I will have to read more about. Right now I don't really see a solution. I don't think federation is possible at this point. Most people would still simply vote for their own country's interest so bigger countries would exploit the smaller ones. Maybe we just have to wait for German economy to collapse and new leader to emerge?