Publications
Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
Final Report of the Commission "A Changing World - Germany and the Global South"
Final report of the Commission "A Changing World - Germany and the Global South"
Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
Publications: Recommendations for the Realignment of Germany’s Relations with the Countries of the Global South
May 21, 2025
Berlin
Global power dynamics are shifting, more rapidly and profoundly than many expected. Since the summer of 2024, the ten-member Commission “A Changing World – Germany and the Global South” has been examining how Germany can rethink and strengthen its relationships with countries in the Global South, drawing on diverse areas of expertise.
Central to the Commission’s work was engaging with experts from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to develop practical recommendations for shaping Germany’s future foreign and development policy. Several of their initial impulses were included in the coalition agreement of the new federal government in January 2025.
The Commission views its recommendations as a foundation for the strategic decisions Germany now faces. While some ideas have already gained traction, the broader conversation is only just beginning, and much remains to be done.
Key Recommendations
Cluster-based cooperation
Global shifts blur the line between foreign and domestic policy. To ensure greater coherence in international cooperation, Germany should consider the enhancement and strengthening of the Federal Security Council.
Engage in coalitions of the willing
Multilateralism is vital for Germany but needs reform. Meanwhile, Germany should lead coalitions of the willing to tackle global challenges.
Strategic alignment of development cooperation
Strong Global South partnerships require well-funded, strategic, and coordinated development cooperation within Germany and the EU.
Develop attractive cooperation concepts
Germany should commit to the 2030 Agenda, advancing cooperation with the Global South through partnerships in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, raw materials, and climate.
Promote trade agreements
With tariffs rising, trade agreements are vital for prosperity and security. They should be streamlined and swiftly concluded with new regions.
Scaled private investment
German investment in the Global South should grow through incentives and risk guarantees, while partner countries should ensure investor-friendly conditions.
Manage labor migration
Germany relies on labor migration due to its aging population. The government should assess needs with businesses and refine policies under a binding strategy.
National immigration agency
A central immigration agency should accelerate labor migration by pooling responsibilities and installing a fast-track system, simplifying entry and permit processes.
Expansion of development banks
Development banks should be financially strengthened to maximize limited resources and leverage international investments.
Restructure debt
Germany should support a sustainable solution to restructuring debt by involving new public and private creditors and supporting indebted countries with responsible economic policies.
International carbon markets
Germany should promote global carbon pricing to fund climate action and foster sustainable development, supporting a just and fair transition for countries in the Global South.
Set up tax clubs
Mobilize additional funds for climate protection by examining the creation of tax clubs on international aviation without harming Germany's economy and competitiveness.
Commission Members
From 2019-2021 she served as Federal Minister of Defense after she first became Secretary General of the CDU in 2018 and later its party chair. Prior she was Prime Minister of Saarland from 2011-2018, simultaneously serving as Minister of Justice, and from 2012 on, Minister of Science. She also served as Saarland Minister of the Interior and Minister of Education in 2007 and as Minister of Labor in 2009. In 2021, she handed over the CDU party chairmanship and renounced her seat in the Bundestag.
Director and Chief Economist of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor at the Technical University of Berlin and Founding Director of the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change. In January 2021, he was appointed by Pope Francis as advisor to the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. Since April 2022, Edenhofer has chaired the European Advisory Board on Climate Change, which was newly established by the EU.
From 1998 to 2005 Joschka Fischer served as Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Vice-Chancellor of Germany. Later he became a visiting professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and supported the creation of the Spinelli Group, an initiative to reinvigorate efforts to federalize the EU. Now serving as a senior strategic counsel, he advises on foreign policy issues at the Albright Stonebridge Group and is a founding partner of Joschka Fischer and Company.
Since 2016 Prof. Dr. Christine Langenfeld has been a Judge in the Second Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court. From 2012-2016, she was the Chair of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration. She was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the University of Vienna from 2014-2019. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin since June 2021 and a member of the Senate of the Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2022.
Contact Persons
Gregor Darmer, g.darmer@globalperspectives.org
Publications
Our collaborative publications aim to stimulate questioning and discussion. They are the result of a deep engagement with the focus topics of our work and enable a fact-based dialogue.
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