GERMANY AS A PROBLEM OF EUROPE
MIROSŁAW PIOTROWSKI
Still not a long time ago was the German country perceived as the main motor – a driving force of the European Union. German economy, population potential and political ideas on European integration were accepted nearly without any objections. Since last year the situation got completely changed. The laid-back invitation of the chancellor Angela Merkal addressed to refugees, revealed the weakness of the Union and Germany. Recently the European Parliament has appointed an investigation commission, despite the opposition of most German politicians, in order to investigate the scandal of Volkswagen. The consortium misinformed its customers all over the world about the actual measurement of smog emission produced by the cars. Volkswagen is likely to pay high damages which it is starting to pay partially. Undoubtedly, it will influence not only the German economy, but also the economy of the Union. What is more, it turns out that the biggest German bank – Deutsche Bank is struggling with very serious problems, in fact the second in numbers of assets in the world. Dark clouds hung over it last year, when it was punished with a high fine for washing dirty money of Russian clients and for unclear business with the countries such as Syria and Iran. Presidents and managers of the bank sat on a bench of defendants. The rating of the Deutsche Bank is falling, getting closer to the rubbish one. It is possible that it may go bankrupt, leading to the bank crisis in the whole European Union. The danger is compared to the crisis which took place years ago in the USA. In this context we see different provisions of the European Commission, which demands introducing regulations in all EU countries, thanks to which banks struggling with serious problems can take over some money collected on accounts if a particular bank states that it is endangered with bankruptcy. So far such EU provisions have not been implemented by six countries yet, including Poland, following the rule ‘festina lente’, that is, hurry up slowly. Reminders of the European Commission, and in fact, Germany in this issue, are at least surprising. Would Germany like to share the bank crisis similarly as refugees with Europe?
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„Niedziela” 9/2016