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The debate on the right way forward for Europe is full of contradictions, not least where Germany's role in tackling the crisis is concerned. There is little consensus in Europe, either about what Germany is doing or about what it should be doing. It has been said that Germany is "too strong" to fit in, but also that it is "too weak" to lead the continent. Germany has been simultaneously accused of wanting to reshape Europe in its own image and of refusing to show any leadership.
The idea that Europe should be – or even can be – led by a single country is wide of the mark. Germany's restraint does not just reflect the burden of its history but signifies the European principle of equal coexistence of its member states. At the same time, however, Germany does feel a special responsibility towards the mutually agreed strategy for resolving the crisis in the eurozone.
However, the idea that Germans want to play a special role in Europe is a misunderstanding. We do not want a German Europe. We are not asking others to be like us. The Germans themselves are the last people who would want to put up with a German Europe. We want to put Germany at the service of the European community's economic recovery – without weakening Germany itself. That would not be in anybody's interests. We want a Europe that is strong and competitive, a Europe where we plan our budgets sensibly, and where we do not pile up more and more debt.
The key task is to create conditions that are conducive to successful economic activity, in the context of global competition and demographic trends that pose a challenge for the whole of Europe. None of these things are German ideas. They are the tenets of forward-looking policies. And the policies of European governments are geared towards these objectives. Those European countries currently grappling with complex adjustment processes for which we should have the deepest respect. Our reward – everyone's reward – will be a strong and competitive Europe.