Sixty years of Franco-German friendship: fragile outline of a common front

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, at a joint press conference this Sunday, January 22, 2023 at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

PA - Benoit Tessier

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

France and Germany celebrated this Sunday, January 22 in Paris their friendship.

Sixty years after the signing of the reconciliation treaty between the two countries, Emmanuel Macron received Olaf Scholz, with great fanfare.

Lyrical flights under the dome of the Sorbonne, marks of affection between the two leaders... At the Élysée, the French president and the German chancellor then held a press conference together, to go over the subjects.

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With our envoy to the Élysée Palace,

Reiterate unwavering support for Ukraine, for as long as necessary.

The two leaders had done it this Sunday morning and did it again in the evening.

Obviously, in their eyes.

But the burning question which was on everyone's lips, and which they were asked, was that of the delivery of heavy tanks, in particular the Leopard 2s. Olaf Scholz refuses to do so.

Is he waiting for American approval?

" 

" he replied.

 »

The German Chancellor does not hide it, he is afraid that the war will last extremely long: “ 

 »

For Emmanuel Macron, a delivery of Leclerc tanks is not excluded.

The question will also be studied collectively in the days and weeks to come, he said.

And the German Chancellor goes further: such a decision can only be taken in consultation with the allies, he argues.

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Joint press conference by President @EmmanuelMacron and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz.

https://t.co/NIkD7twnDj

— Elysee (@Elysee) January 22, 2023

►Read again: Franco-German diamond wedding: a solemn and very political celebration

Another big file, with its big stakes: energy.

In this regard, we are far from an agreement between the two capitals, on a possible reform of the electricity market which could lower prices in certain countries (including France).

Paris and Berlin will pool the purchase of gas, a direction already taken at the level of the Twenty-Seven.

Another announcement: the recent H2Med hydrogen corridor project, which should link Spain to France, will be extended to Germany.

Finally, the thorny issue of the response to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the support provided by the United States to their companies, to industry.

Halftone agreement found on the answer to be given.

This must be done at EU level, and the two men are keen to preserve the balance of means between the Member States.

They will speak with one voice.

In the absence of an agreement on new joint borrowing capacities at Vingt-Sept, an idea that Berlin unsurprisingly rejects, and which is left aside, the Franco-German couple undertakes, on the other hand, to talk about a single voice on budget issues;

speak with one voice at the next European Council in February.

Nothing is impossible if we stay united.

United, for future generations, and to build with them, we are.

Nichts ist unmöglich, wenn wir zusammenhalten.

Vereint gestalten wir die Zukunft - mit den künftigen Generationen.

pic.twitter.com/DnXMpxaUKz

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 22, 2023

►Read also: Diamond wedding anniversary of Franco-German friendship: Paris hosts a concert of young musicians from both countries

"

" said Mr. Scholz.

»

MM.

Both Macron and Scholz know that in Brussels, nothing progresses without an agreement between Paris and Berlin.

► Listen again: Sixty years of the Élysée Treaty: "Each time France and Germany discuss together, it is Europe that moves forward"

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