PARIS — French President
Emmanuel Macron hosted German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz for lunch Wednesday, with both sides saying they made
progress towards easing differences on energy and defense dogging the EU’s
vital double act.
اضافة اعلان
The two leaders were “of one mind on the major
directions” of policy, a German diplomatic source said after the meeting, while
a source in the French presidency called it “very constructive”.
“Today was a very good and important conversation on
European energy supply, rising prices and joint arms projects,” Scholz tweeted.
“Germany and France stand close together and are
tackling challenges jointly.”
Macron and Scholz were at pains to put on a show of
friendliness as Scholz climbed out of his black
Mercedes on arrival, with both
smiling and shaking hands.
The pair spoke for around an hour longer than
planned, including a one-on-one session without advisors.
The German source said they discussed issues
including “European energy policy, national energy policies, economic
development, defense, space and foreign policy”.
Meanwhile the French presidency said the talks were
“in a spirit of very close cooperation for the medium and long-term”.
But Macron and Scholz did not appear before
journalists to announce any joint decisions or take questions.
Recent weeks had seen growing signs of discord
between Berlin and Paris, under pressure from Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine and
its knock-on effects especially on energy markets.
Berlin’s move to spend up to 200 billion euros
subsidizing soaring gas prices and refusal to consider an EU-wide energy price
cap nettled Paris and other European capitals, who fear the effect on their
energy costs.
On defense, France is rattled by German plans for a
shared missile shield with other NATO nations using American equipment, while
longer-term projects to jointly develop new fighter jets and tanks appear
stalled.
A big-spending “new era” of German defense policy
announced by Scholz following the Russian attack has not translated into major
contracts within Europe, especially for French firms as Macron hoped.
‘Motor has to work’
Wednesday’s meeting came
instead of a postponed joint cabinet
meeting between Paris and Berlin, which would have been Scholz’s first as
chancellor.
So far, the
German leader — in office for less than a year — has not developed the same
warmth with Macron as his predecessor Angela Merkel, who “texted every day”,
one French diplomatic source said ahead of the talks.
Strained ties
between the
EU’s two largest and most populous economies — in the past often
the brokers of compromise among the bloc’s 27 members — have come at exactly
the wrong time.
Russia’s invasion and the resulting disruption to the energy system have
coincided with rising tensions between China and the West, as well as fears
that more isolationist forces could return to power in Washington.
Berlin and Paris
also differ on how to make the EU more agile faced with the new challenges, and
how quickly to admit new members.
Macron warned
that “both of us, together with the EU as a whole, are confronted with one of
the biggest, furthest-reaching crises ever experienced by Europe,” with “a lot
of work ahead,” the German diplomatic source said.
“Agreement
between France and Germany is not sufficient, because everyone else has to
agree, but it is necessary,” said Stephane Dion, Canadian ambassador to France
and former envoy to Germany.
“They remain the
motor of Europe. For Europe to work, that motor has to work,” he added.
Tight deadline
France’s Europe minister
Laurence Boone told the Senate Wednesday that
the two countries should aim to resolve their differences “by the 60th
anniversary of the Elysee Treaty” on January 22.
Signed by
post-war leaders Charles De Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, the pact forms the
foundations of French-German cooperation.
For now the two
sides have agreed to set up “working groups... that will have the two
governments working closely together towards the next steps in the coming
days”, the Elysee said.
The groups cover
topics including defense, security, energy, and innovation, the German source
said.
Macron and
Scholz also agreed to talk “before and after” the German leader’s upcoming
visit to China and the French president’s visit to the US, the German source
said.
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