European Commission should be EU government, says Germany

German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble received the Charlemagne prize in Aachen, 16 May 2012.

Mr Schäuble called for the EU to move decisively towards a political union in the face of the eurozone crisis, with a directly elected president in Brussels.

In a passionately pro-European speech Mr Schäuble said the economic and financial crisis made it clear that closer European integration was needed.

• Primary Source

Website: Charlemagne Prize http://www.aachen.de/en/sb/pr_az/karls_pr/index.html

ESO: Background Information: Governing the euro area in good times and bad http://www.europeansources.info/record/governing-the-euro-area-in-good-times-and-bad/

Deutsche Welle, 17.5.12: Schäuble receives Charlemagne Prize http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,15950762,00.html

EurActiv, 31.10.12: Blair calls for directly elected European president, referendum http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/blair-calls-directly-elected-eur-news-515779

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