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A 'marriage' in crisis: Greek bailout row puts strain on Franco-German alliance A 'marriage' in crisis: Greek bailout row puts strain on Franco-German alliance
(about 1 hour later)
Disagreements over how to handle the Greek debt crisis have led to a major falling out between Paris and Berlin, the “couple” at the heart of the European project.Disagreements over how to handle the Greek debt crisis have led to a major falling out between Paris and Berlin, the “couple” at the heart of the European project.
Soothing sounds from both countries’ leaders have failed to reassure diplomats on either side of the Rhine, who fear the special relationship between France and Germany has been badly damaged.Soothing sounds from both countries’ leaders have failed to reassure diplomats on either side of the Rhine, who fear the special relationship between France and Germany has been badly damaged.
To the north, Germans are grumbling that they were stitched up to avoid Greece leaving the eurozone at all costs. To the south, a hard-hitting missive by the leader of the governing French Socialist party accused Berlin of forgetting the “atrocious crimes” committed in its name.To the north, Germans are grumbling that they were stitched up to avoid Greece leaving the eurozone at all costs. To the south, a hard-hitting missive by the leader of the governing French Socialist party accused Berlin of forgetting the “atrocious crimes” committed in its name.
“Germany must pull itself together, and quickly,” Jean-Christophe Cambadélis wrote in an open letter addressed to “mein lieber Freund” – my dear friend.“Germany must pull itself together, and quickly,” Jean-Christophe Cambadélis wrote in an open letter addressed to “mein lieber Freund” – my dear friend.
In Berlin, officials accused Paris of operating behind other member states’ backs and deliberately playing a game of chicken with the German delegation to force through a deal.In Berlin, officials accused Paris of operating behind other member states’ backs and deliberately playing a game of chicken with the German delegation to force through a deal.
“If we’re talking in terms of a married couple, I would say France and Germany are not heading for the divorce courts, but are definitely sleeping in separate rooms,” said Yves Bertoncini, director of the Paris-based thinktank Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute. “What the crisis has done is highlight the very fundamental differences between the two countries’ approach to the economy and finance.” “If we’re talking in terms of a married couple, I would say France and Germany are not heading for the divorce courts, but are definitely sleeping in separate rooms,” said Yves Bertoncini, director of the Paris-based thinktank Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute. “What the crisis has done is highlight the very fundamental differences between the two countries’ approaches to the economy and finance.”
Committed to the idea of peace, prosperity and the European project after two catastrophic wars, the pairing of Germany and France through the 1963 Élysée treaty has long been a marriage of convenience rather than a real romance.Committed to the idea of peace, prosperity and the European project after two catastrophic wars, the pairing of Germany and France through the 1963 Élysée treaty has long been a marriage of convenience rather than a real romance.
At the 50th anniversary of the treaty signing in 2013, Norbert Lammert, president of the Bundestag, declared: “For the future of Europe the Franco-German entente will always be indispensable, even more so as our two countries don’t always have the same interests, traditions and visions.”At the 50th anniversary of the treaty signing in 2013, Norbert Lammert, president of the Bundestag, declared: “For the future of Europe the Franco-German entente will always be indispensable, even more so as our two countries don’t always have the same interests, traditions and visions.”
The French view is of a Germany obsessed with sticking to the financial regulations, cold, calculating and austere. Germany accuses EU nations like France, who do not keep rules – particularly economic ones, of laxity. They put up with each other in the long-term interests of Europe. The French view is of a Germany obsessed with sticking to the financial regulations – cold, calculating and austere. Germany accuses EU nations like France – who do not keep rules, particularly economic ones – of laxity. They put up with each other in the long-term interests of Europe.
“The world ‘couple’ is wrong because it suggests they are on the same wavelength, have the same opinions, think the same way and adore each other like the ideal pair, but it’s never been like that,” Hélène Miard Delacroix, an expert in Franco-German relations at the Sorbonne, told the Guardian.“The world ‘couple’ is wrong because it suggests they are on the same wavelength, have the same opinions, think the same way and adore each other like the ideal pair, but it’s never been like that,” Hélène Miard Delacroix, an expert in Franco-German relations at the Sorbonne, told the Guardian.
“Instead, it’s about two entities finding a common position and agreement. France and Germany often have very different views, but they have the same objectives, particularly in Europe, so however hard the path, they have no choice but to find common ground.”“Instead, it’s about two entities finding a common position and agreement. France and Germany often have very different views, but they have the same objectives, particularly in Europe, so however hard the path, they have no choice but to find common ground.”
Jean-Pierre Maulny, deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Relations (IRIS) in Paris, agreed, saying the mythical Franco-German friendship had been slowly eroded since the end of the cold war. Jean-Pierre Maulny, deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Relations in Paris, agreed, saying the mythical Franco-German friendship had been slowly eroded since the end of the cold war.
“France and Germany cannot ignore each other and are obliged to get on when it comes to Europe, so the couple lives on, but more and more we see Germany taking a contradictory position to that of France.“France and Germany cannot ignore each other and are obliged to get on when it comes to Europe, so the couple lives on, but more and more we see Germany taking a contradictory position to that of France.
Related: Greek bailout: Angela Merkel accused of blackmailing AthensRelated: Greek bailout: Angela Merkel accused of blackmailing Athens
“People used to talk of the Franco-German ‘motor’ driving things forward in Europe but we can see that the countries are not advancing anything and this force no longer exists.”“People used to talk of the Franco-German ‘motor’ driving things forward in Europe but we can see that the countries are not advancing anything and this force no longer exists.”
Personalities count, too. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French president, François Hollande, are from different sides of the political fence and have had a strained relationship since she supported Hollande’s centre-right rival Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential elections.Personalities count, too. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French president, François Hollande, are from different sides of the political fence and have had a strained relationship since she supported Hollande’s centre-right rival Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 presidential elections.
An attempt at rapprochement failed when the victorious Hollande failed to persuade Germany to ease rules enforcing a 3% budget deficit on EU countries, a target France is unlikely to meet before a 2017 deadline.An attempt at rapprochement failed when the victorious Hollande failed to persuade Germany to ease rules enforcing a 3% budget deficit on EU countries, a target France is unlikely to meet before a 2017 deadline.
French media has portrayed last weekend’s negotiations as Germany steamrolling over French concerns to impose its austerity programme on the Greeks and the rest of the continent. Cambadélis’ letter has fuelled the tensions. French media portrayed last weekend’s negotiations as Germany steamrolling over French concerns to impose its austerity programme on the Greeks and the rest of the continent. Cambadélis’s letter has fuelled the tensions.
“Europe, my dear friend, does not understand your country’s stubbornness in blindly pursuing the path of austerity,” he wrote. “Has your country forgotten the support France gave right after all the atrocious crimes committed in your name?”“Europe, my dear friend, does not understand your country’s stubbornness in blindly pursuing the path of austerity,” he wrote. “Has your country forgotten the support France gave right after all the atrocious crimes committed in your name?”
The letter then details French support for Germany’s recovery after the second world war. “Berlin should recall this history lesson just as it is giving Athens a lesson in housekeeping … France and Europe let Germany become the power it is today,” he added. The letter then details French support for Germany’s recovery after the second world war. “Berlin should recall this history lesson just as it is giving Athens a lesson in housekeeping … France and Europe let Germany become the power it is today,” he said.
The view from the north is very different and German officials have complained of being outmanoeuvred by France, accusing Paris of being sentimentally attached to keeping Greece in the eurozone at any cost while expecting the German taxpayer to foot the bill.The view from the north is very different and German officials have complained of being outmanoeuvred by France, accusing Paris of being sentimentally attached to keeping Greece in the eurozone at any cost while expecting the German taxpayer to foot the bill.
After months of taking a backseat in negotiations with Greece, German diplomats complain the French suddenly upped the ante and began to pull strings behind other member states’ backs, even going as far sending state secretaries to Athens to help the Greek government with its paperwork. After months of taking a backseat in negotiations with Greece, German diplomats complained that the French suddenly upped the ante and began to pull strings behind other member states’ backs, even going as far as sending state secretaries to Athens to help the Greek government with its paperwork.
Negotiations with Greece continued even though 15 member states had supported Germany’s hardline position, while only France, Italy and Cyprus had drawn a red line around a Grexit, they say.Negotiations with Greece continued even though 15 member states had supported Germany’s hardline position, while only France, Italy and Cyprus had drawn a red line around a Grexit, they say.
Days after the negotiations, the feeling persists inside Wolfgang Schäuble’s finance ministry that France deliberately played a game with the German delegation, in the full knowledge that Germany could not afford an all-out clash with France.Days after the negotiations, the feeling persists inside Wolfgang Schäuble’s finance ministry that France deliberately played a game with the German delegation, in the full knowledge that Germany could not afford an all-out clash with France.
Related: Merkel 'gambling away' Germany's reputation over Greece, says HabermasRelated: Merkel 'gambling away' Germany's reputation over Greece, says Habermas
“The German view was that a Greek exit would not necessarily weaken the eurozone and would send a signal that the rules and regulations have to be respected. France looked at it from a geopolitical point of view and feared that Grexit would mean chaos in Greece, which could cause wider problems,” Bertoncini said.“The German view was that a Greek exit would not necessarily weaken the eurozone and would send a signal that the rules and regulations have to be respected. France looked at it from a geopolitical point of view and feared that Grexit would mean chaos in Greece, which could cause wider problems,” Bertoncini said.
However, Bertoncini believes Greece will not ultimately prove a marriage wrecker. The danger, he says, is elsewhere. “The relationship is threatened because it has lost its balance. The Germans are economically strong and are exasperated by France, which is not. They simply don’t understand why it doesn’t know how to reform or bring its deficit down. However, Bertoncini believes Greece will not ultimately prove a marriage wrecker. The danger, he said, is elsewhere. “The relationship is threatened because it has lost its balance. The Germans are economically strong and are exasperated by France, which is not. They simply don’t understand why it doesn’t know how to reform or bring its deficit down.
“On the other side, France is frustrated that Germany does not do more to support it on the diplomatic and military stage.” “On the other side, France is frustrated that Germany does not do more to support it on the diplomatic and military stage.
He added: “However, there are other challenges in Europe, like terrorism and migration, and the TTIP agreement, not to mention the Front National in France, to be faced so Germany and France will do their best to put on a united front. “However, there are other challenges in Europe, like terrorism and migration, and the TTIP agreement, not to mention the Front National in France, to be faced, so Germany and France will do their best to put on a united front.
“When you’re married you say to yourself, this other person might really annoy me, but we’re married and I have to make an extra effort.”“When you’re married you say to yourself, this other person might really annoy me, but we’re married and I have to make an extra effort.”