This post was originally published on France24
Of all the elections happening in the EU this year, the vote in Germany is probably the one that is being watched most closely across the bloc. Europe’s largest economy is in trouble; the old model of cheap gas and easily accessible export markets is no longer working. Meanwhile, its political fragmentation makes it increasingly hard for Germany to re-define its role in Europe, whether that’s on defence spending, climate and energy policies or competitiveness. In this debate we explore what is stake for Europe, and how the outcome of the February 23 election could impact the conversation on defence, immigration and other key issues.