Europeanism of a German cut

Wolfgang Schaeuble assumed the role of Germany's finance minister in late October 2009, serving in this capacity for a full eight years. During this period, he collaborated, beginning with my own appointment a few weeks earlier, with nine successive Greek finance ministers. This observation alone serves as a clear indication of the impact he had on navigating the eurozone and Greek crises.

In the Federal Ministry of Finance, Schaeuble brought the background of a German jurist, emphasizing a commitment to stringent rules, coupled with the pragmatism of a politician who reluctantly accepted the role of being second in command. In forums such as the Eurogroup and Ecofin, he exhibited an undeniably European perspective, albeit of a German cut. This perspective was articulated through the prism of Germany's status as the largest economy in the eurozone and Schaeuble's seasoned...