{"id":5910,"date":"2022-07-11T05:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T05:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/?p=5910"},"modified":"2022-07-11T05:11:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T05:11:00","slug":"is-germany-about-to-become-the-sick-man-of-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/?p=5910","title":{"rendered":"Is Germany about to become \u2018The Sick Man of Europe\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div readability=\"112.44230106786\">\n                                <a name=\"body\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Running out of gas, industry facing closures, inflation soaring, currency dropping, trade deficit&#8230; And its new government reversing on everything\u2026<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/static\/media\/germany_problems.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"320\"><\/p>\n<p>Montage \u00a9 Facts4EU.Org 2022<\/p>\n<h3>Can Germany keep the lights on this winter?<\/h3>\n<p>Older readers will recall the United Kingdom being referred to as \u2018The Sick Man of Europe\u2019 back in the 1970s. That epithet is \u2013 extraordinarily \u2013 now being applied to the EU\u2019s largest economy instead. Even by German media commentators.<\/p>\n<p>Facts4EU.Org looks at the problems facing Germany from the point of view of its economy, its energy shortages, its foreign policy failures, and its broken-down military.<\/p>\n<h3>Providing readers with an international context for the BBC\u2019s negativism about the UK<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p>All major economies are going through tough times. In our summary report that follows, Facts4EU.Org (in association with CIBUK.Org) provides some key facts to put the United Kingdom\u2019s situation into perspective.<\/p>\n<p>Germany and the UK are the two largest economies in Europe. Germany is by far the largest economy left in the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a \u2018blitzkrieg\u2019 on Germany but rather a point of comparison which readers will not see elsewhere. All data has been researched from Germany\u2019s official statistics agency (Destatis) and from the UK\u2019s Office for National Statistics (ONS).<\/p>\n<div class=\"facts4eu-summary-red\" readability=\"40.5\">\n<h3>Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary<\/h3>\n<p>The state of the German State (and some comparisons with the UK)<\/p>\n<p>[Sources: Germany&#8217;s official statistics agency Destatis and ONS official data, accessed 11 Jul 2022.]<\/p>\n<p>Economic output : <\/p>\n<p>Unlike the UK, Germany\u2019s GDP is still below its pre-pandemic level.<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"7\">\n<p>\u201cThe continuing Covid pandemic and the delivery and material bottlenecks involved have had a stronger impact on the German economy than on the economic development of most of the other Member States of the European Union (EU).\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\tDestatis, 17 Mar 2022<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Inflation : <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Germany : 10.7% on food and non-alcoholic drink<\/li>\n<li>\nUK: 8.7%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Energy :<\/p>\n<p>Energy prices are rising rapidly everywhere but it\u2019s even worse in Germany.<\/p>\n<blockquote readability=\"12\">\n<p>\u201cThe inflation rate thus reached an all-time high for the third month in a row since German reunification. The main reason for the high inflation still is price rises for energy products. But we also see price increases for many other goods, especially food.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;\tDr. Georg Thiel, President of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 14 June 2022<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li>Energy product prices in May 2022 were by 38.3% higher than in the same month a year earlier<\/li>\n<li>\nfollowing a +35.3% increase in April 2022<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>The prices of heating oil almost doubled (+94.8%) in May 2022<\/b><\/li>\n<li>\nNatural gas prices (+55.2%) and motor fuel prices (+41.0%) increased considerably<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Currency : <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Euro \u2013 the currency principally backed by Germany &#8211; <b>fell 13.1% in the last 12 months<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Trade :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Latest trade figures for May show <b>a deficit for the first time in 30 years<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"row\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\" readability=\"13\">\n<p>Green agenda : <\/p>\n<p>The new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is having to perform U-turn after U-turn. Despite having the German Green Party in his coalition government, it has now been agreed that <b>151 coal-fired power stations will now be needed again<\/b>.\n        <\/p>\n<p>Germany already burns 27 times as much coal as the UK. Now it\u2019s set to increase dramatically as mothballed coal-fired power stations are fired up.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/static\/media\/olaf_scholz.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"236\"><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Military :<\/p>\n<p>For years the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) have been criticised by German media for their ineptitude.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\" readability=\"11.5\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\" readability=\"18\">\n<p>The current EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was Defence Minister and was widely seen as the worst minister in Angela Merkel\u2019s government, before being removed and parachuted into her present role in Brussels.\n        <\/p>\n<p>The list of inadequacies is endless, from troops not having rifles, to tanks, fighter jets, and other serious harware not being operational.  Here is part of German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht\u2019s speech at the Bundestag (German parliament) at the end of April:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md-4\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/static\/media\/leyen_military_2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"134\"><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote readability=\"7\">\n<p>&#8220;On paper, we have 350 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, of which 150 are actually operational.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In some areas of the German military the situation is even worse. A minority of Germany\u2019s fighter jets are serviceable and out of 51 Tiger helicopters only nine can take off. For the infantry there is also a lack of protective vests, night vision equipment and many other essentials.<\/p>\n<p>Foreign policy :<\/p>\n<p>Germany\u2019s stance on its relationships with Russia and with China have damaged the country\u2019s reputation considerably. Its policy of \u2018Change Through Trade\u2019 has clearly failed.<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his colleagues are now playing catch-up in relation to its response to Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.  Germany has been roundly and repeatedly criticised by Ukraine\u2019s President Zelenskyy. <b>This contrasts with his praise for the United Kingdom as the European country that has led the charge and done most to help.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div readability=\"72.26377532883\">\n<h3 class=\"uppercase\">Observations<\/h3>\n<p>Our snapshot above provides basic information about the state of the German State from official sources. <\/p>\n<p>This Facts4EU.Org report provides some context to the relentlessly negative stories on broadcast media about the state of the United Kingdom. Challenges there are \u2013 in abundance. However the picture could be even bleaker in the EU\u2019s largest economy.<\/p>\n<p>This winter can Germany keep its industries running and can people heat their homes?<\/p>\n<p>There are now serious concerns in Germany about its ability to power people\u2019s homes and to keep industry running this winter. Already the government is urging people to use less energy, to preserve supplies for the winter.<\/p>\n<p>With its major pipeline from Russia (Nordstream I) having been closed by the Russians for \u2018maintenance\u2019, and with the Nordstream II pipeline blocked, serious questions are now being asked in Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The government there has already said that essential services and the needs of the general population will be prioritised over industry, should energy supplies run short, but that immediately raises a question.<\/p>\n<p><b>How will the German economy fare if its industry has to start shutting down? And what will happen to the Euro and to the EU itself?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Facts4EU.Org needs you today <\/p>\n<p><b>We are a &#8216;not for profit&#8217; team (we make a loss) and any donation goes towards the actual work<\/b>, not plush London offices, lunch or taxi expenses, or other luxuries of some organisations. <\/p>\n<p>We badly need more of our thousands of readers to donate.  <a href=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/help-us\" target=\"_blank\">Could this be you, today?<\/a>  Maybe you&#8217;ve been thinking about it, but just haven&#8217;t got around to doing it?  If so, let us reassure you.  It&#8217;s quick and easy and we use two highly secure payment providers.  And we do NOT ask you for further donations if you donate once &#8211; we just hope that you keep supporting us. Your donation stays anonymous unless you tell us otherwise.<\/p>\n<p><b>Please don&#8217;t assume that other people will keep us going<\/b> &#8211; we don&#8217;t receive enough to survive and we need your help today.  <a href=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/help-us\" target=\"_blank\">Could you help us?<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Most of our readers are well-informed and appreciate our fact-based articles, presented in a way you won&#8217;t see anywhere else. If you value reports like the one above, please help our work with a donation. We have far more to do in researching, publishing, campaigning and lobbying Parliament than we have in terms of the financial resources to fulfil these tasks. We badly need funding to continue &#8211; we rely 100% on public donations from readers like you. <\/p>\n<p>If you believe in a fully-free, independent, and sovereign United Kingdom, please make a donation now. It\u2019s quick, secure, and confidential, and you can use one of the links below or you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/help-us\" target=\"_blank\">our Donations page here<\/a>. You will receive a personal, friendly \u2018thank you\u2019 from a member of our team within 24 hours. Thank you for reading this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ Sources: Detsatis | ONS | German media ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.\n<\/p>\n<p>Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Mon 11 July 2022<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/news\">Click here to go to our news headlines<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Please scroll down to COMMENT on the above article.<\/b><br \/>And don&#8217;t forget to actually post your message after you have previewed it!<\/p>\n<div class=\"page-share\">\n<p class=\"page-share-intro uppercase highlight-red\">Share this article on<\/p>\n<p><span><a class=\"share-link share-facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/news\/2022_jul_german_problems\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a><\/span><span><a class=\"share-link share-twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Is+Germany+about+to+become+%E2%80%98The+Sick+Man+of+Europe%E2%80%99%3F&#038;url=https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/news\/2022_jul_german_problems&#038;via=facts4euorg\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"funding-request\" readability=\"11.5\">\n<div readability=\"18\">\n<p class=\"text-center\"><b>Since before the EU Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org<br \/>has been the most prolific researcher and publisher of Brexit facts in the world.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-center\"><b>Supported by MPs, MEPs, &#038; other groups, our work has impact.<\/b>\n<\/p>\n<p>We think facts matter.<br \/>\n<b>Please donate today<\/b>, so that we can continue to ensure a clean Brexit is finally delivered.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-5 one-off-donation\">\n<h4 class=\"highlight-red text-center\">Any credit card user<\/h4>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/app.moonclerk.com\/pay\/72uak0b7eefu\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donate\" src=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/static\/media\/supp_sgl.png\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/app.moonclerk.com\/pay\/4kg41bl800na\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Subscribe\" src=\"https:\/\/facts4eu.org\/static\/media\/supp_mthly.png\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-6 regular-donation\">\n<h4 class=\"highlight-red text-center\">Paypal Users Only &#8211; <span>Choose amount first<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Running out of gas, industry facing closures, inflation soaring, currency dropping, trade deficit&#8230; And its new government reversing on everything\u2026 Montage \u00a9 Facts4EU.Org 2022 Can Germany keep the lights on this winter? Older readers will recall the United Kingdom being referred to as \u2018The Sick Man of Europe\u2019 back in the 1970s. That epithet is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/facts4eu.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}