French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (Nov 18) called for a Franco-German push to make Europe a stronger and more confident global player that could prevent “chaos” on the world stage. The relations between France and Germany, since 1871, according to Ulrich Krotz, has three..
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (Nov 18) called for a Franco-German push to make Europe a stronger and more confident global player that could prevent “chaos” on the world stage.
Background
The relations between France and Germany, since 1871, according to Ulrich Krotz, has three grand periods: ‘hereditary enmity’ (down to 1945), ‘reconciliation’ (1945–63) and since 1963 the ‘special relationship’ embodied in a cooperation called Franco-German Friendship.
In the context of the European Union, the cooperation between the two countries is immense and intimate. Even though France has at times been euro-sceptical in outlook, especially under President Charles de Gaulle, Franco-German agreements and cooperations have always been key to furthering the ideals of European integration.
However, the Franco-German partnership and European reform push have been plagued by policy differences and the domestic troubles of the two leaders.
Analysis
Mr. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have used a series of war anniversaries to project unity as they push back against populist and nationalist forces in Europe and United States President Donald Trump’s isolationist “America First” stance.
With half a year left until European Parliament elections in which far-right forces look to make gains, Mr. Macron made a passionate plea for stronger backing from Dr. Merkel on a range of reforms to strengthen Europe. “Europe, and within it the Franco-German couple, have the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos and to guide it on the road to peace,” Mr. Macron told the German Parliament. “That’s why Europe must be stronger… and win more sovereignty,” he said at a ceremony to honour the victims of past wars and dictatorships.
Mr. Macron said it was Europe that had led the drive for green energy and against climate change and was now most strongly pushing multilateral approaches to trade, security, migration and environmental policy.
The first French president to address the Bundestag in 18 years, Mr. Macron called for greater European unity in order for the bloc to meet future challenges in an uncertain world. He said Europe must not “become a plaything of great powers, must assume greater responsibility for its security and its defence, and must not accept a subordinate role in world politics”.
Chancellor Merkel said she agreed with Mr. Macron’s assessment that Europe stands “at a crossroads”, before the two headed into a meeting to discuss a range of policy challenges – from a joint eurozone budget to migration policy and taxing Internet giants. The German leader reiterated that she backed Mr. Macron’s proposal for a future European army as a symbol of a united continent – an idea that has raised Mr. Trump’s hackles.
Last week, the American President mocked the plan by tweeting that “it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France?”
However, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen insisted on Sunday that a joint military force would need not just common equipment and training but also “the political will to resolutely defend European interests when a conflict breaks out”.
Additionally, the French Minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau told the Journal du Dimanche “it is not a question of being against the United States but of taking our destiny into our own hands to no longer count on others”.
Mr. Macron’s Berlin visit came a week after world leaders met in Paris to commemorate the end of World War I a century ago. The French President has repeatedly invoked the war’s horrors to drive home the message that rising nationalism is again destabilising the world.
Assessment
Our assessment is that with the Brexit negotiations resulting in near-chaos, Franco-German unity, and their de facto leadership of the EU has been a reliable stabilising force. We believe that as the EU’s largest countries (by population and GDP), France and Germany will have to steer the multination union into a more assertive role in global politics.
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