'British-German Relations in the European Union after the War on Iraq'

Abstract

In spite of a traditionally different approach towards European integration in Britain and Germany, under New Labour and the red-green coalition British and German European policy positions have moved closer than ever before. In a European Union which is increasingly characterised by a multiplicity of shifting alliances, a British-German working partnership could potentially provide leadership on a number of issues. The British government's failure to balance European and American interests over Iraq has, however, seriously damaged the basis for future British-German co-operation. Tony Blair's choice to sacrifice the domestic political campaign on the euro and to focus instead on supporting the Bush administration over Iraq has once again pushed Britain to the sidelines in the EU. The result is a renewed dominance of the Franco-German duo, with an economically weakened Germany once again diminished to a junior role alongside France.