Laura van Lerberghe, edited by Laura Laplaud
Emmanuel Macron as well as the Heads of State and Government of the Twenty-Seven, participated in a European summit these last two days in Brussels. On the program: Ukraine, competitiveness, trade, immigration and even energy. In this context, the dissensions between Paris and Berlin have come back to the fore.
The heads of state and government of the European Union gathered in Brussels for a European summit. Among the topics on the agenda, Ukraine and in particular ammunition deliveries, competitiveness, trade, immigration and energy. Subjects for some divisive, but which did not need to be decided urgently. In this context, the dissensions between Paris and Berlin have come back to the fore.
The end of heat engines
First disagreement: the end of the thermal engine in 2035. After having supported the principle, Germany opposes it. The country is requesting an exemption for synthetic fuels. A volte-face which prevents the text of the European Green Deal from being adopted. On the French side, we are sticking to the 2035 deadline. We fear that the European Union’s climate commitments will not be respected.
To clarify these divergent positions, Emmanuel Macron met with his German counterpart. “The Chancellor was very clear on the fact that this does not call into question the European objective in 2035 of having vehicles without CO2 emissions. And in this context, without reopening the trilogue, to be able to find the modalities techniques to provide the answer to what we have declared together. So there is no disagreement on this subject between us”, declared Emmanuel Macron.
Nuclear
Second disagreement: nuclear energy. France and ten other countries want to obtain recognition of the atom to decarbonize the economy in all European texts, which does not please Germany and some anti-nuclear countries.