Germany's new challenges: EU and G8

Germany assumes two powerful positions as of today: presidencies of the European Union and of the G8 countries (the world's 8 most industrialized countries). The former is for six months and the latter for a year. High on the country's agenda are bringing back the EU Constitution. France and Netherlands both voted against the Constitution last year. Germany feels it is important to continue solidifying European unity. Other issues are energy security and climate protection. I'm not certain that Germany will have much success on the constitution issue, nor on influencing US policy on climate protection.