Chancellor of Germany,
Helmut Kohl, contributed decidedly to the process of Europea integration,
throughout his fifteen years in office. During this time, apart from overseeing
the German unification, EEC enlarged and treaties such as the Single European
Act, Maasticht and Amsterdam were signed.
Helmut Kohl was only
three years old when Nazism came to power, so he can been considered a
after-nazi period politician. After involvement in politics at a regional level,
he became leader of the Christian Democratic Union in 1973. Finally, after some
electoral failures, Kohl was appointed Chancellor of West Germany in 1982.
Kohl was always
emphatically pro-European, constantly pushing for a united Europe to ally
Germany with its former enemies. As the leader of the main economic power in
Europe, Kohl played an integral and influential role in the affairs of the
European Community throughout his time as Chancellor.
In 1990 Kohl became
deeply involved in the unification of Germany, and when it was finally realised
he became the first Chancellor of post-war unified Germany.
His convictions on
European integration were greatly influenced by Adenauer, who strove to form
strong links within Europe following the divisions created by second World War.
Kohl followed by prioritising relations between West European and East European
countries and becoming a force behind the drive for European Monetary Union.
He was finally
defeated in the 1998 election by Socialist Gerhard Schröder. Henceforth, he and
the CDU have been severely damaged by an election fund money-laundering scandal.
Juan
Carlos Ocaña
