Statement by EES President Dr Ingo Friedrich, June 8th, 2026
Is Germany on the brink? Seize the chance for a turnaround now!
A pervasive sense of pessimism and deep-seated fears—extending to outright doomsday scenarios—currently prevail in Germany. Is this attitude justified? Well, let’s keep things in perspective and let the key facts speak for themselves:
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Yes, in its obsession with courting voter favor, the political establishment has gone "too far"—meaning it has stretched the costs of the welfare state well beyond what is affordable. Evidently, hundreds of thousands of people have channeled their ambition into securing state benefits rather than engaging in personal effort. It is now undeniable that immigrants, in particular, have taken full advantage of this system. Policymakers clearly forgot to balance the pleasant aspect of providing support with the difficult task of demanding personal responsibility. But this can and must change—in other words, it needs to be normalized! Examples such as Greece and Portugal demonstrate that such unpopular reforms are indeed possible and successful within Europe.
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Why was Germany so successful for so many years and decades, yet has ceased to be so in recent years? Because, it seems, too many people have somehow cast aside—or simply forgotten—those values that are, so to speak, quintessentially German: diligence, discipline, and thoroughness. The work of the ever-growing number of NGOs has played a part in this—whether intentionally or not—because many of these organizations convey the impression that if only the "right" politicians made the "right" decisions, everything would be fine. Yet far too few people seem interested in the fact that success across the entire economy actually depends on the diligence, thoroughness, and discipline of every single employee. This can and must change; things need to return to the way they were for so long. Then success will return, too.
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Naturally, the intensity of today’s global competition—take China, for instance—is on a completely different scale from the challenges we had to overcome in the past. Inevitably, this means that we Germans must now bring more new ideas and outstanding performance to the table if we wish to maintain our position and prosperity in this new world. Yet this is hardly rocket-science; it is entirely achievable, given that our competitors’ growth is not limitless either. For policymakers, this means prioritizing all measures that foster competitiveness and growth.
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In our current situation, the guiding principle must be this: precisely because circumstances are so challenging and dramatic, we must seize this moment as an extraordinary opportunity for renewal. When, if not now, will there be such widespread readiness to tackle the fundamental issues and cast aside outdated practices? When, if not now, can the situation be fundamentally turned around? Let us have the courage to do so, for the objective possibility of a successful turnaround is within reach.
Dr. Ingo Friedrich