Friendship with ups and downs: French President Macron, German Chancellor Scholz
Image: Reuters
The French President’s accusation that Germany is isolating itself in Europe may be provocative. But again he is initiating necessary changes.
DEmmanuel Macron’s calculation seems to be working. His harsh accusation that Germany is isolating itself in Europe has given new impetus to Franco-German relations. Work is being carried out under high pressure at all working levels to show the Frenchman how wrong he is. The federal government has launched a diplomatic charm offensive. In quick succession, the Chancellor and Ministers Wissing, Baerbock, Habeck and Lindner sought talks in Paris. The pressure on the armaments manufacturers Airbus and Dassault has increased so much that the most important joint armaments project, the FCAS combat aircraft system, is progressing and the next development hurdle can be cleared.
Paris and Berlin are also getting closer when it comes to energy policy. The federal government, after hesitation, has agreed to sign a formal solidarity agreement to exchange electricity and gas. There are still differences in the ideas as to how the gas price in the EU could be capped. But the federal government had to admit that the resentment of its European partners at Germany going it alone in buying gas on the world market was not entirely unjustified.