Enderlein says current debate on European solidarity is a historic moment, in TV interview with ZDF heute-journal.
In an interview with German TV ZDF's heute-journal news programme on 29 June, 2020, Hertie School President Henrik Enderlein said he sees a historic moment in Europe since the joint Franco-German proposal for a common coronavirus recovery plan announced in May. “This common proposal for a Franco-German recovery fund in Europe is indeed a moment that will go down in the history of Europe, because for the first time at the European level, we are finding a common answer for a common crisis. It’s not about redistributing or shifting things around from one place to another or asking who is liable or who has control. This crisis affects all of us. And now Germany and Europe, together with France, have found a common concept that now delivers common answers – and this is a good thing," Enderlein said.
Enderlein also sees a fundamental shift in the debate about European solidarity: “I have the feeling that there is currently a debate in Europe. Until now it was the case that the North said the South has to reform and the South said the North had to act in solidarity. Of course, this is still the case, but now we hear Germany or countries like the Netherlands speaking much more about the necessity of solidarity. And countries like Italy now suddenly say: 'We also have to improve our economic structures'. And if that is the result of this crisis, then I think we are going in the right direction.
Watch the interview here (in German).