At the European summit, the dissensions between Paris and Berlin have returned to the forefront

Laura van Lerberghe, edited by Laura Laplaud 07:48, March 25, 2023

The heads of state and government of the European Union met in Brussels for a European summit. Among the topics on the agenda, Ukraine and in particular the delivery of ammunition, competitiveness, trade, immigration and energy. Subjects for some divisive, but which did not need to be decided urgently. In this context, the dissensions between Paris and Berlin have returned to the forefront.

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The end of thermal engines

First disagreement: the end of the combustion engine in 2035. After having supported the principle, Germany opposes it. The country is requesting a derogation for synthetic fuels. An about-face that prevents the text of the European Green Deal from being adopted. On the French side, we are sticking to the deadline of 2035. There are fears that the European Union's climate commitments will not be respected.

To clarify these divergent positions, Emmanuel Macron met with his German counterpart. "The chancellor has been very clear that this does not call into question the European objective in 2035 to have vehicles without CO2 emissions. And in this context, without reopening the trialogue, to be able to find the technical modalities to provide the answer to what we have said together. So there is no disagreement on this subject between us," Macron said.

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Nuclear

Second disagreement: nuclear energy. The France and ten other countries want to obtain the recognition of the atom to decarbonize the economy in all European texts, which does not please Germany and some anti-nuclear countries.