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Forty years of contrasting relations between France and Germany: how did we go from hand in hand with François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl to a more tense relationship today between Paris and Berlin? Angry issues are piling up: on defense, on arms sales, on free trade agreements, but also on our debt.
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François Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl, hand in hand in Verdun. The image, symbol of a united Franco-German couple, went around the world. But how, forty years later, did this duo transform into a duel between Chancellor Merz and President Macron? How can we explain the current crisis between our two countries?
Latest subject of friction to date: the free trade agreement signed between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur. Paris is against, Berlin for. The differences are out in the open. “I will never defend an agreement that is lax with regard to what we import and harsh with regard to what we produce at home,” declared Emmanuel Macron on February 27. “Germany and France did not vote together. I deeply regret that,” sharing for his part Friedrich Merz, on May 7.
Another subject of tension: support for Ukraine. After four years of war, the European Union releases 90 billion euros. But France and Germany disagree on how to finance them. A standoff lost by the Germans. “Germany hoped to be able to mobilize frozen Russian assets to finance military support for Ukraine. For France, this was not possible. This seriously damaged the relationship between France and Germany”observes Paul Maurice, specialist on Germany, researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
Strategic disagreements against a backdrop of industrial competition on both sides of the Rhine. The most striking example: the SCAF, the combat aircraft of the future responsible for replacing the Rafale. Launched with great fanfare in 2017, it may never see the light of day. In question, the difficult understanding between the companies responsible for piloting it: Airbus for Germany and Dassault for France. “If Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, the subject is dead”assures Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Despite the tensions, Berlin assures that this 100 billion euro project is not yet buried. Close to Chancellor Scholz, a deputy is convinced of this. “Both parties have invested a lot in this project. Skills have been developed. It’s not wasted money, but time”, says Thomas Rüwekamp, CDU MP, chairman of the parliamentary defense committee.
Beyond the accumulated files, a black spot remains: France’s debt. “The Germans, who are nonetheless inspired by a spirit of seriousness, who have the famous budgetary golden rule, consider that we are irresponsible. We are unfortunately seen by the European system, with Germany in the lead, as a country at risk now, a country at risk”indicates Hubert Védrine, former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Restarting the Franco-German engine, a complicated challenge for a French president at the end of his mandate and a German chancellor at the head of a weakened coalition.
