The Daily Telegraph

Scholz tells French to take a hike ... to make talks a stroll

- By Jorg Luyken

OLAF SCHOLZ has proposed outdoor hikes between French and German ministers as an alternativ­e to the usual stuffy meetings, in an effort to freshen relations.

The German chancellor wants to overhaul a regular ministeria­l tête-àtête between the countries and inject some energy into his flagging relationsh­ip with France. In the future, ministers will meet at annual retreats in which they will go for stimulatin­g walks and chat about the big issues of the day, according to details of the plan published in Süddeutsch­e Zeitung.

“It’s about calmly discussing the big social issues,” an insider told the German daily. In contrast to the previous format of such meetings, the two sides will forgo joint communiqué­s. The first meeting is planned to take place in Germany in October, but no location has been found yet and it is not clear if the French have agreed to the shake-up. Mr Scholz’s official retreat at Schloss Meseberg – a small baroque palace an hour north of Berlin – is considered too small.

Mr Scholz, 64, has reportedly been left “bored” at past meetings and wants to put more life into the gatherings.

Relations between Paris and Berlin have been strained since the Social Democrat took over as Germany’s chancellor at the end of 2021. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has reportedly been put off by the Mr Scholz’s phlegmatic personalit­y and has had to adjust to a more distanced working relationsh­ip after the closeness of the Merkel era. The two nations postponed a joint cabinet meeting last autumn after they failed to agree on a joint communiqué.

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