Germany’s Angela Merkel warns against the rise of nationalism across Europe

The UAE’s Dr Anwar Gargash said EU elections had caused a “dent” in the liberal international order

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. AP

Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that Germany must be “vigilant” when it comes to rising nationalism across Europe.

In an interview with CNN, which will be broadcast on Tuesday evening, Mrs Merkel said her country must face up to “the spectres of the past”.

“We have to tell our young people what history has brought over us and others,” she said.

“In Germany, obviously, they always have to be seen in a certain context, in the context of our past, which means we have to be that much more vigilant than others.”

While eurosceptic parties performed well in France, Italy, Poland and Hungary during last week’s European elections, a stronger than usual turnout meant pro-EU parties kept control of the bloc’s parliament.

Mrs Merkel, who has served as Germany’s leader for 13 years, has announced she will step down as Chancellor in 2021.

Her allies in Germany’s political centre fear the rise of far-right parties such as the AfD, which is currently the largest opposition group in the Bundestag. The AfD, which was only founded in 2012, have frequently been accused of antisemitism.

Earlier this week, the German government's anti-Semitism commissioner Felix Klein warned Jewish people to be wary of wearing skullcaps in public, following a rise in anti-Semitic and anti-foreigner incidents in the country.

Mrs Merkel lamented the fact that it was still necessary to have police officers stationed outside synagogues and day care centres and schools for Jewish children.

The German Chancellor is set to meet her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday to discuss the outcome of the EU election results.

Mr Macron’s far-right rival Marine Le Pen’s party won the highest share of the votes during the election. Ms Le Pen called for a “powerful” union of far-right parties in the European Parliament.

Her sentiments were echoed by Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini, whose far-right League Party were the outright winners in Italy. Mr Salvini hinted a cooperation with Ms Le Pen as well as Nigel Farage, whose Brexit Party won the highest share of votes in Britain.

The election results were greeted with a warning in the UAE, with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash calling for the Arab world to “take stock” of the changes.

Dr Gargash tweeted: “The dramatic results of the EU parliamentary elections a further "dent" in the liberal international order. The Arab world needs to take stock of these changes & work diligently to affirm its place in the emerging multi centric global construct.”