PARIS: Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday pledged to drive Europe forward together, as the German leader visited Paris to celebrate 60 years of post-war cooperation despite recent strains.
The historic partnership has been under pressure from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and broader tectonic shifts.
But in a speech at the capital’s Sorbonne University, Scholz said upholding strong ties was key for the continent.
“The future, like the past, rests on cooperation between both our countries as the driving force of a united Europe,” he said.
Macron said that “Germany and France, because they cleared the path to reconciliation, must become pioneers to relaunch Europe”.
He cited the need to “build a new energy model”, encourage “innovation and the technologies of tomorrow”, and ensure the European Union is “a geopolitical power in its own right, in defence, space and diplomacy”.
The two leaders were then to take part in a joint cabinet meeting.
The personal relationship between both men has been less than warm since Scholz assumed office in late 2021.
But “there are structural problems that go further than the personal relationship”, said Jacob Ross, a researcher at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin.
The frictions are even felt by the public, with 36 percent of French respondents and 39 percent of Germans telling pollster Ipsos this week that relations were suffering.
The 1963 Elysee Treaty signed between post-World War II leaders Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle provided for everything from military cooperation to youth exchanges.
Since then, France and Germany have often built the foundation for joint crisis response in Europe, and other nations are looking to them again now.
Top issues to address include the Ukraine conflict, climate and energy, and European competitiveness faced with a new wave of “buy-American” subsidies in the United States.
Scholz on Sunday pledged continued support to Kyiv after Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbour almost 11 months ago.
“We will continue to provide Ukraine with all the support it needs for as long as necessary. Together, as Europeans, to defend our European peace project,” he said.
But Germany is still undecided on whether to deliver — or allow allies to deliver — its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Kyiv.
The impression that “there is a united coalition, and that Germany is standing in the way is wrong”, newly installed Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Friday.
France has been pressing Germany to move faster, dashing ahead on mobile artillery in April and light tanks this month.
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