Fresh Faces, Tired Policies? The German ‘Grand Coalition’ and the EU

This Policy Brief argues that despite the change in government, Germany's position in the EU will not change much. While plans for domestic economic reform are limited rather than radical the new government's approach to the Lisbon Agenda and the EU budget will remain largely unchanged. Broad continuity will also characterise the new government's stance on foreign policy and EU enlargement. The coalition's strong committment to the EU Constitution may however come as a surprise.