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Germany and France exploring an alliance
EFL:Out with the European Union! In with the Franco-German Union? That was the gist of a series of articles in the Thursday edition of Le Monde claiming that France and Germany are "studying a project of unity." The newspaper said that Paris and Berlin were emboldened by their collective opposition to the war in Iraq and were fearful of losing influence once the European Union admits 10 new members next May. Afraid they wonât listen to their betters and shut up. "If a Europe of 25 fails, what will be left for France?" Le Monde quoted Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the French prime minister, as saying in reference to the enlarged European Union. His answer, according to the paper, was the "the Franco-German rapprochement." Le Monde said that Pascal Lamy of France, the trade commissioner at the European Commission, would like to see a "bund," or alliance, that would allow France and Germany to fuse their militaries and diplomatic corps and to share Franceâs seat at the United Nations Security Council. "The Franco-German Bund", that has a nice historic ring to it. The paper quoted Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign minister, as saying that a rapprochement with Germany was the "only gamble that we cannot lose." The articles relied almost entirely on the views of French officials, although at one point a German academic was quoted as saying that the German defense and foreign ministries could have problems with the idea. "Weâd like it to read "The German-franco Bund", please." Le Monde pointed out - and analysts in Brussels agreed - that talk of a Franco-German union is partly a negotiating tactic to influence deadlocked discussions on the final text of the European Constitution. France, Germany and several other countries are trying to push through the draft constitution with only minor changes but are meeting strong resistance from countries like Spain and Poland, which object to a revamped voting system. Britain and some Eastern European newcomers to the EU are also resisting moves to extend cooperation into areas like defense, taxation and foreign policy. "Weâd prefer to remain soverign nations" By threatening to focus more closely on their own union, France and Germany are sending a message to the newcomers about what they see as their core role as the original founders of the European Union. "We were here first, we get to make the rules and be in charge!" France and Germany share some diplomatic posts, have regular exchanges within their ministries and occasionally have joint cabinet meetings. But they have trouble agreeing on certain issues, among them Franceâs nuclear program. Iâm sure there are more than a few european nations that would also have a problem with the Germans getting anywhere near the French nukes. They remember history all too well. Posted by: Steve 2003-11-13 |
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