Joolz Gale

Joolz Gale is a British conductor and contributor based in Berlin

Monday

Joolz Gale

What British bureaucrats can learn from German efficiency

From our UK edition

We have often heard over the past weeks how Germany's impressive testing capacity has proven central to combating the coronavirus at such speed. But equally impressive is the speed at which its state and federal governments have reacted financially to save the economy. Like some of the UK's support schemes, Germany has provided various aid packages or Soforthilfe to businesses large and small. Unlike the UK, however, Germany has already managed to pay out billions of euros to those in need. For the self-employed and small businesses with up to ten workers, this has essentially meant free money arriving in their bank accounts within 24 hours of applying, for which they complete only a short online form with their name and tax ID with hardly any further checks.

Wednesday

Joolz Gale

Why Germans are warming to Boris Johnson

From our UK edition

There is a strange dual narrative on Brexit here in Berlin. On the surface, nothing has changed. Donald Tusk's comments last week, that Brexit has been 'one of the most spectacular mistakes' in EU history, speak for many Germans who have looked upon the UK with ridicule and pity since 2016. Germans have relished in the farce that is Brexit, delighting in 'the demise of a once great nation', while hoping that its difficulties will make Britain think again. Indeed, with each delay and possible victory for Jeremy Corbyn comes more and more hope in Germany that the revocation of Article 50 – or at least a second referendum – becomes inevitable. Yet, in reality, everything has changed. First, like us, Germans are tired of Brexit.

Tuesday

Joolz Gale

Could Boris charm the EU in Brexit negotiations?

From our UK edition

The penny has finally dropped here in Berlin. After the Brexit party's success in the European elections – and several missed Brexit deadlines later – most Germans are slowly realising that Brexit will happen. There are some who still hope that the offer of a new Brexit extension – as Ursula von der Leyen has indicated might be on offer – could mean a second referendum, or revocation of Article 50. But fewer now believe either of those remain realistic possibilities. And with Boris Johnson likely to be in Downing Street by tomorrow, these options become harder still to imagine.

Sunday

Joolz Gale

The EU is a religion for Germans – no wonder Brexit is going so badly

From our UK edition

What makes me chuckle about the Brexiteers is how little they understand the German mindset. Here in Germany, the European Union is a religion. It is ingrained so heavily in the DNA of nearly every German citizen that any reasoned argument to counter its domination, or challenge its direction, is swiftly dismissed. The integrity of the EU - its unity, identity, money and rules - is central to German identity. That’s why they’ve maintained such a tough stance over Brexit. The Germans have been very good to me as a musician in Berlin over the past decade. But on Brexit, I am reminded that I am still deeply British. In recent weeks I have had a series of informal meetings and discussions with parliamentarians and officials on all political sides in Berlin.