Volker Perthes and Markus Kaim: Letter from Berlin
German chancellor Angela Merkel is about to signs the condolences book on Jan. 8, 2015 at the French Embassy in Berlin for the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which left at least 12 dead and many others injured.
International crises bring about the best and the worst in governments' policies. Germany is no exception. A look back at 2014 shows a Germany at the center of gravity in EU foreign policy making. During a year plagued by wars and conflict, Chancellor Angela Merkel managed to show leadership while also integrating other EU countries into a specifically German approach. That was no mean feat for a country so often criticized for not taking more responsibility commensurate with its size and economic power.
