French-German tensions hamper key EU decisions: German MEP

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Guardian
2 Oct 2023 07:53

A prominent German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) expresses concern about the limited communication between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Flags of Germany and France flutter on flagpoles (AFP)

A prominent German Member of the European Parliament (MEP) said strained relations between France and Germany are causing delays in crucial EU decision-making, including agreements related to defense in Ukraine and trade deals, The Guardian reported.

David McAllister, who chairs the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee and holds a significant role within the opposition Christian Democrats party, has expressed his apprehension regarding the limited communication between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. This lack of contact, he suggested, is resulting in delays concerning critical decisions related to topics such as battle tanks, fighter jets, and the negotiation of a future trade agreement with Latin America.

“At the moment we’re seeing a remarkable lack of internal coordination between Paris and Berlin. And that is not good,” said McAllister as quoted by The Guardian.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized that while the Franco-German partnership, historically regarded as the EU's guiding influence, does not encompass all of Europe's dynamics, it remains a pivotal element. He also noted that effective collaboration between these two nations is essential for the functioning of various initiatives and processes within the EU.

“In the end, Paris and Berlin need to agree to smooth things … and this is where I criticize the German government. I don’t think we have seen such little cooperation between Paris and Berlin as we are witnessing at the moment,” he added.

Meanwhile, Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor, has reportedly developed a strong rapport with four French presidents, including Macron, during her 16-year tenure. Experts concur that the EU currently lacks this robust collaborative connection.

One of the most “prominent examples”, as highlighted by McAllister, involves the struggle to reach agreements regarding the development of the next-generation European battle tank, a critical component of the primary combat system, be it for use in Ukraine or any potential conflict zone in the future.

France and Germany: 'A period of mistrust'

In the previous month, following a meeting between the French armed forces minister, Sébastien Lecornu, and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, Paris and Berlin pledged to achieve advancements by the year's end. However, there is a belief among some that additional political impetus is necessary to expedite decision-making processes.

“Anyone who has been following German-French relations for the past decades will agree there are always hiccups, and the most prominent example is that once again we are not moving forward on the development of the European battle tank,” McAllister stated in an interview that took place before the defense ministers convened.

However, he stressed that this was merely a single illustration of the deficiency in their relationship.

“We do not see any kind of progress on the next, the future aircraft,” he said.

Furthermore, advancements in a trade agreement with the Mercosur coalition of Latin American nations are also absent, according to McAllister.

He pointed to a speech delivered by the German leader in Prague in August as an illustration of the absence of strong unity within Europe.

“Can you imagine: he spoke for 45 minutes on the future of Europe – especially defense and security – and he doesn’t mention France? I mean, with whom will you organize your European defense and security if not with France? France is the leading military force in Europe and the British left us,” said McAllister.

This perspective is also held in France, as expressed by Georgina Wright, who serves as the director of the Europe program at the Institut Montaigne think tank based in Paris.

Wright said, “My view is, yes, relations are strained. Yes, there are key issues that they need to overcome, based on actual policy disagreement and approach. But we shouldn’t exaggerate it too much."

“We are in a period of mistrust … but it’s nowhere near what happened between the UK and France in 2017 and 2018 in terms of animosity. At the same time, you have to remember the Franco-German relationship is a lot more important than the France-UK relationship,” she said.

“I think in Paris there is a view that Germany just spends too much time talking to itself. So you’ve got a coalition that’s formed … the three parties that are very different, and they’re just spending so much time agreeing a new policy [at home] that by the time it gets to Brussels, they haven’t had time to discuss it with anywhere else. And actually, that’s something I’ve heard not just from France, but from other member states as well,” added Wright.

This week, divisions on another front - between Berlin and Rome - were brought to the forefront. Giorgia Meloni sent a letter of protest regarding Germany's intentions to fund two migrant non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in Italy.

These developments probably played a role in Italy's choice to refrain from endorsing a new draft concerning revisions to EU migration regulations during a meeting of interior ministers held in Brussels last week.