Nat O'Connor: As noted in an earlier post, it is useful to see that there is lively debate going on in Germany about Europe and alternatives to austerity. This is an important counterbalance to the 'Austerity Germany' we see presented in much of the media, which creates the illusion that the German people are united in a desire to punish Ireland and other peripheral EU states for our economic and fiscal woes. On the contrary, Helmut Schmidt makes a major contribution to the debate by pointing out Germany's benefit from ensuring solidarity between the centre and periphery of the EU.
Helmut Schmidt was the Social Democratic Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. In a key speech to the German Social Democrat party conference in 2011, he outlines the importance of Germany's integration with the other countries of Europe and proposes "radical regulations" for the EU's financial markets as well as the "financing of growth-enhancing projects" to help EU member-states achieve balanced budgets.
The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) has recently republished this speech in 15 other European languages in order for Schmidt's message to be widely heard across Europe. An online, English version of the speech is here.
Born in 1918, Schmit takes a long view of the challenges of the 21st Century, as well as the failures of the 20th. He notes that there has been conflict between the centre and periphery of Europe since the Middle Ages - and it most often ended in war. The founders of the European Coal and Steel Community were explicitly motivated to bind Germany into an integrated Europe and to avoid further conflict.
At the same time, Schmidt argues that German strategic interests are also better served by integration into Europe. By 2050, European nations will each constitute "just a fraction of one per cent of the world's population." ... "That is why the European nation states have a long-term strategic interest in their mutual integration."
Schmidt points to recent German budget surpluses as a "very undesirable development". ... "as in reality all our surpluses are the deficits of other countries." (There is a lesson there for those who claim that Ireland can restore its economy on the back of exports alone).
Schmidt supports some sort of fiscal transfer at EU level. In terms of contributions to the EU's budget, he notes: "It is a fact that, for decades now, Germany has been a net contributor. ... And of course Greece, Portugal and Ireland have always been net recipients."
Schmidt identifies the weakness of the EU's institutions in addressing the financial crisis. "Umpteen thousands of financial traders in the USA and Europe, plus a number of ratings agencies, have succeeded in turning the politically responsible governments in Europe into hostages." ... "In 2008/2009, governments the world over managed to rescue the banks with the help of guarantees and the taxpayers' money. Since 2010, however, this herd of highly intelligent, psychosis-prone financial managers has gone back to its old game of profits and bonuses."
He argues that the EU or Eurozone could and should "introduce radical regulations for the common financial market in the euro currency area. These regulations should cover the separation of normal commercial banks from investment and shadow banks; a ban on the short selling of securities at a future date; a ban on trading in derivatives, unless they have been approved by the official stock exchange supervisory body; and the effective limitation of transactions affecting the euro area carried out by the currently unsupervised rating agencies."
Various other policies are also required, including "monitoring mechanisms, a common economic and fiscal policy as well as a series of tax, spending, social and labour market reforms in the different countries." However, despite the need for closer coordination in a range of area, Schmidt argues that the EU will not become a federation any time soon.
"A common debt will be inevitable too. We Germans should not refuse to accept this..."
"We should also avoid advocating an extreme deflationary policy for the whole of Europe. On the contrary, Jacques Delors is quite right to insist that a balancing of the budgets should be accompanied by the introduction and financing of growth-enhancing projects. No country can consolidate its budget without growth and without new jobs. Those who believe that Europe can recover solely by making budgetary savings should take a close look at the fateful effects of Heinrich Brüening's deflationary policy in 1930/32. It triggered depression and intolerable levels of unemployment, thus paving the way for the demise of the first German democracy."
In short, Helmut Schmidt's speech is a reminder that, taking the long view, not only are there alternatives to austerity - but austerity on its own is not a solution at all. Solidarity and leadership are needed to bring about recovery, led by an integrated EU, with centre and periphery working together for their mutual benefit.
Dr Nat O'Connor @natpolicy
Nat O’Connor is lecturer in social policy in UCD’s School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and part-time policy specialist at Age Action Ireland. Previously Director of TASC, Nat also led the research team in Dublin’s Homeless Agency.
He has taught politics and social policy since 1999. He has a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin and a MA in Political Science and Social Policy from the University of Dundee. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), a member of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and chairperson of the Irish Social Policy Association (ISPA). You can find him on LinkedIn (natoconnor) and TwitterX @natpolicy
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