For Germany and the EU, a Summer Respite Nears Its End

MIN READAug 23, 2018 | 09:00 GMT

British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrive for a news conference on July 5, 2018, in Berlin as leaders of the EU agreed to step up preparations for a possible collapse of the Brexit talks. (Photo by Omer MESSINGER / AFP)

(OMER MESSINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

It's summer in Europe, and many politicians are enjoying their vacations. European Union leaders should get as much rest as they can, because after the summer ends, several problems that were temporarily put on hold will come back to confront them, paving the way for a hot autumn on the Continent. From trade disputes with the United States to the debate about reforming the European Union to an increasingly chaotic Brexit, the final months of 2018 will be hectic in Europe. As the bloc's main economic and political player, Germany will be at the center of the debates to come, and Berlin's decisions will be felt across Europe....