Stefan Kornelius
Born in1965, Stefan Kornelius has been international section head at Süddeutsche Zeitung since 2000. After studies in poltical science, history and public law in Bonn and London, he enrolled at Henri-Nannen, Germany's most famous school of journalism. Initially a freelancer at Stern, the BBC and Süddeutsche Zeitung, he became SZ's correspondent in Bonn, Washington and then in Berlin. He lives near Munich.
Updated: 9 June 2009
Until now, ideological discussion has been off the menu in a Europe which lacked a genuine culture of debate. Now that we have a French President and a German Chancellor from opposing sides of the political divide, perhaps the EU can revive the interest of its citizens with public exchanges of views on important issues. 
Angela Merkel tells it like it is. That's the problem. Her plan to push through penalties for overindebted states at the 28 October European Council meeting is a good one, says Die Süddeutsche Zeitung. But it is also guaranteed to put the backs up of many members states, who will see an over-dominant Germany behind her good sense. 
Other states can moan and groan to their hearts’ content: after the Greek fiasco, Angela Merkel is forcing fiscal discipline on Europe. After all, the political work of whole generations is at stake, alerts the Süddeutsche Zeitung. 
After German-ordered airstrikes on two fuel tankers in northern Afghanistan caused massive civilian casualties, European coalition partners are heaping censure on the Bundeswehr. Premature and risky reproaches, says the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which nonetheless go to show that the war finally has to come to the fore in the upcoming electoral campaign. 
The European parliament is the world's only democratically elected supranational institution. In the absence of any real debate as to why it exists, citizens view it as a preserve of the elite.