German President Joachim Gauck uses major speech to call for ‘more Europe’

Report of a speech by President Joachim Gauck of Germany on the 22 February 2013 on prospects for the European idea. It was billed as a fundamental restatement of Germany’s European engagement. He called for what he described as 'more Europe' while at the same time addressing some of the fears of ordinary EU citizens, including those regarding the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis. He said that Germany did not want to impose its will on the rest of its EU partners.

The president also appealed to the people of the United Kingdom to remain members of the EU.

• Primary Source

Germany: President: Speech, 22.02.13: Speech on prospects for the European idea http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Reden/EN/JoachimGauck/Reden/2013/130222-Europe.html?nn=1891680

ESO: Background information: Cameron in danger of misreading Merkel http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-in-danger-of-misreading-merkel/

Spiegel Online International, 22.01.13: 'A Timeless Canon of Values': German President Makes Plea for More Europe http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-president-gauck-calls-for-more-european-integration-in-speech-a-885047.html

ESO: Background information: Merkel: 'loves' Europe, insists on 'homework' http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-loves-europe-insists-on-homework/

The Guardian, 22.02.13: German president: make English the language of EU http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/22/german-president-pleads-britain-stay-eu

EUObserver, 22.02.13: Germany does not want 'diktat' on Europe http://euobserver.com/political/119162

Deutsche Welle, 09.03.13: German Finance Minister Schäuble warns EU of UK exit http://www.dw.de/german-finance-minister-sch%C3%A4uble-warns-eu-of-uk-exit/a-16660598

Social Europe Journal, 07.10.13: Germany And Europe 23 Years After Reunification http://www.social-europe.eu/2013/10/germany-and-europe-23-years-after-reunification/

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