German chancellor and French president meet in Paris to try iron out wide-ranging tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz next to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi as they travel on board a train bound to Kyiv after departing from Poland, June 16 2022. Picture: REUTERS/LUDOVIC MARIN
Europe’s two biggest economies have traditionally been the driving force behind key decisions in the EU including a huge plan to raise billions of euro in joint debt to weather the Covid-19 pandemic. But the Franco-German engine appears to have jammed up, potentially delaying decision-making just as the EU grapples with acute challenges from Russia’s war in Ukraine to soaring energy prices.
Money is part of the problem. When Berlin unveiled a plan to spend €200bn to help households and business pay their gas bills last month, European partners including France complained that the scheme could divide the region further. On the sidelines of a meeting of EU leaders last week, Macron said the joint ministerial gathering had been cancelled because German ministers were unavailable, though he insisted on the significant amount of work ahead for the two partners.
In Paris, officials have privately warned that Donald Trump, or a figure with similar doubts on the need for a strong transatlantic relationship, could come back to power. They emphasise the need for stronger EU autonomy in defence.
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