Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

France, Germany growing tensions shadow EU leaders' summit

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Mar 2023 08:43
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Against a tense backdrop, French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with his German counterpart one-on-one on Friday. 

  • x
  • France's President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz bump fists after holding a joint news conference at the conclusion of an EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium December 17, 2021. (Reuters)
    Macron and Scholz at the conclusion of an EU Summit in Brussels in 2021 (Reuters)

A mounting dispute between France and Germany over nuclear energy and internal combustion engines poses a possibility of escalating during a meeting of the 27 leaders of the European Union on Thursday.

Two of the largest economies in the European Union got into a spat when Berlin angered several of its allies, including France, by abruptly opposing a historic agreement to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles starting in 2035.

The ban is key to Brussels' ambitious aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and become a "climate neutral" economy.

This month, Germany intervened in an unusual move after the EU legislative process had already approved the car ban. Brussels was compelled to guarantee that the bill will permit the sale of new cars with combustion engines that use synthetic fuels.

While the last-minute obstruction annoyed France, Berlin was irritated by Paris' insistence that nuclear energy be given more weight in EU measures to increase the production of green technologies in Europe.

The EU agenda has always been advanced through cooperation between Paris and Berlin. Nonetheless, the division looms over the summit as the leaders gather to talk about EU support for Ukraine and how to increase economic competitiveness in the face of threats mainly from US subsidies.

Despite the fact that no agreement has yet been achieved, EU diplomats believe a different proposal may come in the next few days.

The big picture 

Related News

Diplomatic efforts to solve Ukraine conflict are 'exhausted' says Merz

1,200 soldiers from 4 NATO states train river crossing in Germany

Germany, which has one of the largest automobile manufacturing sectors in the world, vetoed the agreement last year in a move that was seen as the result of local politics. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, leads a coalition of social democrats opposing liberals and Greens.

"It is above all a German affair and an internal debate in German politics that has reached Europe," a senior EU diplomat complained.

"It's not a good look to return to a debate when the European Parliament and European Council have agreed a deal. We cannot run things like this," the diplomat added.

Germany seeks an exemption for the synthetic fuels that are still being developed and generated with low-carbon power. German manufacturers are hoping that despite the technology's lack of experience, it will enable the continued use of combustion engines.

Germany wasn't the only country to rebel against the prohibition on combustion engines. It has forged a modest alliance with nations like Italy, home to yet another big automaker, as well as nations in Eastern Europe like Poland and Hungary.

France has not shied away from criticizing Germany specifically.

Earlier this month, French Transport Minister Clement Beaune blamed his German counterpart for leading "a revolt" against the ban on new petrol- or diesel-engine cars.

Against this tense backdrop, French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with Scholz one-on-one on Friday. 

Another sticking point they will have to work out is France's insistence that the EU acknowledge nuclear power's contribution to Europe's green future.

While nuclear-powered France's request for atomic energy to be put on the list was denied, it did score a minor win.

Read next: Macron after Europe division to save his country: Foreign Policy

  • Germany
  • France
  • Green technology
  • EU leaders' summit
  • European Union

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS