http://www.german-foreign-policy.com en-en http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/45652 Germany and the European Union must depend increasingly on energy imports. Berlin views the ,,geopolitical consequences"of this dependence on energy resources in other nations as of the ,,utmost strategic importance"for its ambitions as a world power. For that reason, Germany has been urging for some time that the EU engage in joint activities to assert political power. German government advisors leave no doubt that Berlin and Brussels will also have to adjust to using armed conflicts in the drive for diminishing energy sources in this ,,intensifying economic and political competition for power." 23.08.2004 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/40108 German foreign policy towards the People's Republic of China (PRC) pursues the goal to enter into an informal alliance with China, with the assistance of the EU, in order to contain the super power, the USA. Since the current Chinese government is considered to be unpredictable and unreliable, Berlin simultaneously, in cooperation with the USA, uses external and internal pressures on the self confident potential rival. German military and government consultants increasingly consider the use of force in the region, because economic and political instruments don't seem to be sufficient to achieve ,,real European influence in the Asia-Pacific region." 05.01.2004 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/38412 By ,,means of a directive for the further development of the German Armed Forces", the German military shall be in a position, within a few years, to lead extended and ,,robust"combat missions ( ,,class instead of mass!") throughout the world. Thus, after the reorganization, the armed forces will become an instrument of ,,preemptive warfare"and satisfy the tenets of the basic ,,defense policy". 17.12.2003 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/38362 The Aachen Charlemagne Prize is the oldest political distinction awarded by the German Federal Republic in the area of foreign policy. It honours merit in ,,Europe and European unification". It is awarded yearly on Ascension Day in the Coronation Hall of Aachen's Council House. Those honoured include prominent European politicians, heads of state and government, amongst others Alcide de Gasperi, Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, Vaclav Havel, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton. Since 1997 the ,,Charlemagne Prize Foundation" (,,Karlspreis-Stiftung") has been co-ordinated with the prize. Its purpose is to ,,publicise the ideal and aspiration of the Charlemagne Prize throughout Europe". High ranking representatives of business, the German Minister for the Economy, the Minister President of North Rhine Wesfalia and the political advisor Werner Weidenfeld1) serve on its committees. 15.12.2003 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/37933 In the constitution of the European Union, which Berlin attempts to push through against any opposition - under threats of splitting the EU as a consequence - , a far reaching deprivation of power of the majority of member states is to be established. In the event that Berlin and Paris prevail with their intentions, the responsibilities of the individual states in military political affairs would be actually repealed. The national defense arsenals would become the responsibility of the German-French power cartel which, as the center of an exclusive military ,,European core"would make decisions about warfare for the EU. 27.11.2003 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/35436 Political circles between conservatism and rightwing extremism who agree with the basic direction of Berlin's foreign policy, view it as being influenced by too many internal political and diplomatic considerations. They say that one would have to revert to such notorious concepts as ,,geopolitics"and the ,,greater region"according to the ,,law of power"which governs the lives of states. This strategy is to be promoted by a new periodical which is supported by members of the German military and foreign policy advisors. 15.08.2003 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/34908 At present, the Middle East is viewed as a decisive battle ground in the competition for hegemony in the future ,,world order."Berlin and Washington recognize not only their mutual intentions ( ,,to pressure these countries to open themselves politically"), but also considerable differences which call for co-ordination, because only a joint effort promises success. Berlin sees German-European interests threatened by the aggressive strategy of the USA against Iran, and attempts, while following US policy, to increase its influence on Iran with an independent and more flexible strategy. 24.07.2003 http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/25412 The German Association for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) which describes itself as a ,,human rights organisation" campaigns for the world-wide enforcement of the rights of ethnic groups and the ,,Right to Homeland" (Heimat). It co-operates with leading organisations influencing German foreign policy, such as the League of Expellees and the Federalist Union of European Peoples' Organisations. It is closely allied with expansionary German foreign policy under the pretext of ,,advancement of human rights". According to the GfbV's proposals ,,fundamental human rights" should be enforced by ,,standing, operationally prepared, military strike forces". 14.08.2002