France and Germany strengthen ties designed to bolster European Union
France and Germany yesterday renewed a 1963 treaty to further entrench their ties at a time when populist parties and the UK’s planned departure from EU have place increased strain on the bloc.
The deal, to forge closer bonds in foreign policy and defence, was announced at a ceremony held in the border town of Aachen.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of a possible “European army” through a “joint military culture”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the deal must be used to protect the people of the EU from the tumults of the world.
“At a time when Europe is threatened by nationalism, which is growing from within, when Europe is shaken by the pains of Brexit and worried by global changes that go far beyond the national level, Germany and France must assume their responsibility and show the way forward,” he told an audience of European leaders.
“The threat comes from outside Europe and from within our societies if we are not able to respond to the growing anger.”
But the pact has led to criticism from nationalists, with Marine Le Pen, head of France’s National Rally, claiming it was “an act that borders on treason”.
It has been described as an extension of the 1963 Elysee Treaty between France and Germany that sought to nurture better relations after two devastating world wars.
The treaty stipulates that France will help to push for Germany’s inclusion to the five-strong permanent members of the UN Security Council.
This was seized on by Ms Le Pen, who told a rally last week: “Emmanuel Macron now wants to share this seat with the Germans.”
In a video that spread across social media, she said the deal would put France’s border region of Alsace partly under German control.
The Elysee has since hit back, rejecting the UN seat-sharing allegations and admonishing those who have said the Alsace population would learn German or France would lose its sovereignty.
Alexander Gauland, co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, said the two governments were trying to make a “super EU” within the bloc.
“The EU is now deeply divided,” Mr Gauland said. “A German-French special relationship will alienate us even further from the other Europeans.”
Mr Macron has come in for criticism in France as yellow jacket protesters have taken to the streets against his leadership.
Mrs Merkel announced in October that she would step down as chancellor and would not stay on as party leader of Christian Democratic Union.