LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Autumn 2008

by Frank Baasner

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Ulrike Guérot's assessment of the political partnership between France and Germany rightly points out that the entente between the two countries is no longer close enough to further the European Union’s progress. She is also right to say that cooperation between Paris and Berlin continues to be vital for any helpful initiative on Europe. Before reviewing the state of affairs under the leaderships of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, she begins by hankering for the "good old days".

It’s worth stressing that the common interests and points of view of the French and Germans have never been spontaneously identifiable at any point in their bilateral cooperation or at any stage of the European integration process. Rather than being a natural gesture motivated by ties of affection, the partnership between the two countries’ leaders has always been based on rational political decisions.

If we cast our minds back to the Adenauer-de Gaulle or the Mitterrand-Kohl partnerships, both of which appeared, perhaps rather misleadingly, to be made up of born accomplices for guaranteeing Europe's prosperous and peaceful destiny, we can see that that in fact it took them quite a while to realise two important things. First that any clash of national interests didn’t constitute an absolute bar to the Franco-German partnership, and second that the future of their nations was inextricably linked to the future of the European Union.

Different national interests, as well as the very different German and French political cultures, are factors that have to be borne in mind when speaking about the achievements of Franco-German led European integration. It is no exaggeration to say that cooperation doesn’t come as second nature to anyone. Productive and pleasant is always hampered by the fact that the differences remain very striking. And if one were to set out to find two countries whose structures and social and cultural traditions did not bode well for cooperation, France and Germany would quickly spring to mind.

On many issues, there is often a wide gulf between both countries’ starting positions, yet paradoxically the success of Franco-German cooperation has been based on precisely this division: because they are both compelled to cross this divide by inescapable and wholly rational political decisions they have each taken, there is no longer any inclination to shy away from difficult negotiations.

This analysis applies equally to the present situation. The much-trumpeted "crisis" is only to be expected when new teams take over the reins of power in either country. Despite the presence of flies in the ointment during the early months, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel are now reaching a stage of mutual understanding that looks set to bear fruit. Whether we like it or not, the maintenance of industrial power, a capacity for scientific innovation and, by the same token, the collective wealth of the other European countries are dependent on Franco-German cooperation.

We may well still seem a long way from a common Franco-German position on the key issues that Ulrike Guérot reels off, but I still believe that bold initiatives cannot be ruled out in the areas of defence, research and sustainable development