This book aims to present a coherent picture of Germany¿s European policy during Merkel¿s chancellorship. At the same time, it traces the development of the EU in the period 2005¿2021. Accordingly, the European crises and the internal and external threats to the integration community are addressed, as well as the jointly developed solutions. Thus, on the one hand, the book shows what Germany was willing to do for Europe; on the other, it reveals how the EU was able to develop further as the most important point of reference for German politics and power.

Prof. Gisela Müller-Brandeck-Bocquet held Jean Monnet Chair for European Studies and International Relations at the University of Würzburg.

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Angela Merkel as Europe's New Hope?.- Chapter 3. Germany and the Lisbon Treaty.- Chapter 4. Germany's Role in the Euro Crisis: Europe's Disciplinarian or Indispensable Leader?.- Chapter 5. The Merkel Governments and Access Policies: Immigration, Visa and Asylum Policies.- Chapter 6. EU Enlargement Policy in the Merkel Era.- Chapter 7. Germany's contribution to EU foreign and security policy.- Chapter 8. EU climate protection policy and Germany's ambivalent role.- Chapter 9. Increasingly Limited Scope for German European Policy: Parliament and Federal

Constitutional Court.- Chapter 10. Angela Merkel's Taboo Breaking: The Corona Reconstruction Fund.- Chapter 11. German European Policy in the Merkel Era: An Attempt to Take Stock