EU Issues Ahead for Germany's Next Government

The next German government might be more efficient in its decision-making, but that does not mean it will be more effective in steering Europe through the ongoing crisis. It is increasingly likely that Germany's next government will be a three-party center-right and center-left coalition with the strongest parliamentary backing a German government has had in more than four decades. Consequently, it will face less parliamentary opposition to its decisions than the previous government.

However, there are still a number of obstacles that even a grand coalition must overcome. In addition, the speedier parliamentary decision-making process will be contrasted by the complex negotiations over the European Union's structural future among the bloc's members.