The Japan Times - Europe, Germany and the end of the euro?

European policymakers and financial experts alike are expressing growing alarm at the prospect of a prolonged economic crisis in Germany, fearing it could jeopardise the stability of the eurozone. Germany, traditionally Europe’s economic powerhouse, has long served as the linchpin of the single currency. Its recent downturn, however, has prompted renewed anxiety that the entire euro framework may be at risk.

Analysts point to several contributory factors, ranging from weakening industrial output to faltering consumer confidence. Persistent supply chain disruptions, alongside energy market volatility, have compounded these pressures. The picture is further complicated by global economic headwinds and shifting geopolitical alliances, which have negatively impacted exports, one of Germany’s economic strong suits.

“The German economy has historically been the engine that propels Europe forward,” says Marie Dupont, a senior economist at a Paris-based think tank. “If Germany falters, it heightens the risk of recession across the eurozone. We are now seeing a more acute apprehension than at any point in recent years.”

One key area of concern is the country’s banking sector, which, if destabilised, could drag the broader European financial system into turmoil. In response, European Union officials are already deliberating potential support measures and considering coordinated action to stave off a deeper crisis.

Critics, however, point to what they regard as complacency in Berlin. Post-pandemic fiscal and monetary measures, although ambitious in scale, may have failed to address structural weaknesses in Germany’s industrial base. Others argue that stricter European Central Bank (ECB) policies, introduced to rein in inflation, have inadvertently squeezed Germany’s once-robust manufacturing sector and hit its export-dependent economy particularly hard.

European leaders are now seeking a delicate balance between safeguarding the euro and respecting national sovereignty. Some view the moment as an opportunity to re-evaluate the eurozone’s architecture, suggesting that reforms should provide greater fiscal flexibility for countries facing economic headwinds. Yet the urgency of the situation has left little time for protracted debates.

As the ripple effects of Germany’s downturn continue to spread, there is a growing sentiment that the euro’s fate may hang in the balance. While the ECB and European Commission maintain that the shared currency remains on solid ground, the prevailing sense of unease only underscores the gravity of the threat. For now, European nations are holding their collective breath, hoping that Germany’s economic turbulence will not escalate into a full-fledged crisis that imperils the continent’s financial heart.