In Paris, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart Catherine Colonna are trying to pave the way for a talk between Chancellor Scholz and President Macron. This is urgently needed as relations have deteriorated and this is bad news for Europe.
Sand in the engine
“The Franco-German engine needs to be repaired,” says German correspondent Derk Marseille. “Scholz and Macron have not agreed, this is, so to speak, a step towards the most important session. Baerbock has the task of inaugurating this.
Europe reporter Stefan de Vries also underlines how important it is for both heads of state to come out. “France suffers from Germany’s dependence on Russian gas and German exports to China.” But there is more at stake: Germany has better government finances, a better export position, less unemployment; there are many areas where France has to put up with Germany.
There is no Europe without France and Germany
Both De Vries and Marseille underline how much a Franco-German quarrel has a negative impact on the functioning of the European Union. “If both countries agree, that’s enough to define European policy,” says De Vries. After all, they are the two largest countries in the EU which together account for a third of Europe’s population and two-fifths of Europe’s income. Ergo, without Germany and France there is no Europe, and there is no EU.
Personal
Not only are there geopolitical issues and envy, Scholz and Macron don’t get along on a personal level either – incompatibilité des temperaments. According to De Vries, they are completely different personalities. “Scholz is a somewhat boring accountant, Macron, twenty years his junior, is a whirlwind”.
Disappointment
Marseille thinks Macron is also disappointed in Scholz, who has talked about European integration, commonality and strategic autonomy in his many speeches, but who dropped some nasty points on several issues. Marseille mentions the supply of arms to Ukraine and the Scholz’ Alleingang in his mission to China, which was more of a trade mission than a diplomatic-political one. “When push comes to shove, he has shown that he chooses German interests earlier than Macron thought and expected.”
Brexit
Have relations strengthened since the British left the Union? De Vries and Marseilles differ on this. The fact is that a new balance of power must be sought. According to Marseilles, the British have acted as an authoritative voice in situations of conflict and Germany lacks that anchor. However, De Vries believes that Germany and France were also doomed to each other before Brexit and that the role of the Netherlands has changed because of Brexit.
De Vries sees the European center of gravity moving eastward. Intrinsically, France’s position is becoming more peripheral, while Germany remains central. A Germany that also has better relations with Eastern European countries than France.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
