INTERVIEW
While French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel put on the table Monday a 500 billion euros plan to revive an economy damaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, via an unprecedented mutualisation mechanism of European debt, many observers have perceived the fact that Germany has subscribed to the idea of jointly issued debt as a turning point. Invited on Saturday from Europe 1, the Franco-German ecologist Daniel Cohn-Bendit also believes that the Chancellor's position marks a new beginning. "It is a step that Germany has taken," he said.
"For the first time, Germany has accepted a positive transfer from the European budget. There will be a joint loan to boost the economy in the EU, and the countries which will benefit from it will not have to repay in proportion to what they received, "recalls Daniel Cohn-Bendit.
"The majority of Germans agree"
"The majority of Germans agree with this. It is new and very important," added the former MEP. And to conclude: "This shows that the Chancellor and the Germans have understood that the interest of Germany is to maintain the European market and the EU."