France and Germany strengthen their union, January 2003

Germany's economy might be in the doldrums, but the country is still one of the most influential members of the European Union. The relationship with France is particularly significant and in the context of celebrations on 22 and 23 January marking the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, the two countries have committed themselves to forging even closer ties.

According to President Chirac, writing in the German weekly 'Rheinischer Merkur', under the 1963 Elysée Treaty the two countries:

'ending an age-old rivalry, sealed their reconciliation and together embarked on close and ambitious cooperation to support and continue building the European enterprise. The initiative taken by General de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was an act of courage and vision. With hindsight, we can see its full historical dimension. These two very great Statesmen enabled our two countries to break the vicious circle of confrontation, hatred and desire for revenge by urging them clear-sightedly to realize their common destiny.'

To mark the anniversary, the French and German cabinets held a joint meeting as did the parliaments, which met at Versailles. Chancellor Schroeder said the Elysée Treaty goes 'beyond mere friendship and [is] a unifying bond between the two societies and peoples on either side of the Rhine.' Those bonds will now be significantly strengthened, with the two allies planning, reported the BBC, 'regular joint cabinet meetings, harmonising aspects of family and civil law and ... dual nationality for French and German citizens.'

France and Germany also want to cooperate on policies submitted to the United Nations and other international bodies, and to promote their view of the Union's common security and defence policy. Cooperation is their strength: in a revealing interview with the Financial Times Deutschland on 21 January, the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, confessed that Germany 'remains a less powerful player than France on the international stage.' Mr Fischer said 'It would be entirely wrong to place us in the same rank with France and Britain on foreign and security policy', although he maintained that 'reunified Germany is increasingly involved in finding its own role in Europe, in Nato and in the Franco-German relationship.'

Their joint stance on the issue of war with Iraq has again highlighted problems with - and differences in - the Union's attempts to forge a Common Foreign and Security Policy. Speaking on 20 January, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin warned against war: “What we do regarding Iraq has to be valid for other crises. If war is the only way to resolve this problem, we are going down a dead end.” (FT)

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France has the power to veto military action against Iraq. Germany, although currently a member of the Security Council, doesn't have that power, but will be chairing the Security Council in February and might use its influence to slow any move to war.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld angered both France and Germany when he accused them of representing 'old Europe'. At a press conference on 22 January - as the two European allies were celebrating their achievements and committing themselves to new initiatives - Mr Rumsfeld was asked 'it seems that a lot of Europeans rather give the benefit of the doubt to Saddam Hussein than President George Bush. These are U.S. allies. What do you make of that?'

In his reply, Mr Rumsfeld said: 'Now, you're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east. And there are a lot of new members. And if you just take the list of all the members of NATO and all of those who have been invited in recently - what is it? Twenty-six, something like that? - you're right. Germany has been a problem, and France has been a problem.'

Neither France nor Germany appreciated being labelled a 'problem'. The BBC reported Volker Ruehe, former German Defence Minister, as saying 'Rumsfeld is not exactly a diplomat and it is not very wise to say something like that'.

The relationship might be 'old', but it appears to have gained new vigour and could have major implications for the European Union. Writing in the German weekly 'Rheinischer Merkur', in the run-up to the anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, President Chirac noted that 'experience has proved that no European project has any chance of success if France and Germany do not determinedly carry it forward together.'

Only a few months ago, attempts to reform the Common Agricultural Policy were undermined by a deal between France and Germany - and that at a time when they were reportedly not getting on very well together.

Although increasingly strong, the alliance is not necessarily exclusive. The BBC reported the German Ambassador to the UK as saying 'We want Britain fair and square in the heart of Europe because we believe the great problems which we are facing today should not only be solved - tried to be solved - by the French and Germans, but we desperately need Britain more engaged in Europe.' Whether UK support for the United States will allow for greater engagement with France and Germany (and other EU Member States) remains to be seen.

'There has not been such a clear diplomatic divide between the US and Britain on the one side and France and Germany on the other for a long time' reported the BBC, which identified four reasons for the split:

• America's new assertiveness under President George Bush.
• UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's willingness to use force in international affairs alongside the Americans
• France's traditional reluctance to get too close to the United States.
• France's threat to veto war against Iraq in the UN Security Council

Links:
BBC News Online:
	22.01.03:	Analysis: an alliance with big ideas
	22.01.03:	Euro-allies mark 40 years of friendship
	22.01.03:	Franco-German leaders' statements
	22.01.03:	Press calls for Franco-German revival
	22.01.03:	Room in the marriage for three?
	23.01.03:	Analysis: Diplomatic rift over Iraq
	23.01.03:	Outrage at 'old Europe' remarks
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	22.01.03:	Paris and Berlin condemn rush to war
	22.01.03:	Paris more powerful than Berlin, says Fischer
France: Ministry for Foreign Affairs:
	40th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty
Germany: Federal Foreign Office:
	40 years of the Elysée Treaty
Council of the European Union:
	Homepage
	22.01.03:	Javier Solana: Message on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty [in French]
United States: Department of Defense:
	Homepage
	22.01.03:	Secretary Rumsfeld Briefs at the Foreign Press Center

Eric Davies
Researcher
Compiled: Friday, 24 January 2003

In the context of celebrations on 22 and 23 January 2003 marking the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, France and Germany have committed themselves to forging even closer ties.