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France and Germany – The Engine of Europe
At a meeting on 11th May 2007 between the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Nikolas Sarkozy, Miss Merkel made a thinly veiled threat to David Camoron by saying that if he wins the next election the Conservative government will face isolation and the political enmity of Germany and France if it does not co-operate regarding the implementaton of the Lisbon Treaty (i.e. the Constitution).
Miss Merkel stated that: "France and Germany are the engine of Europe. We refuse to stretch out our hand to those who oppose the Lisbon Treaty but who at the same time talk about enlargement". The statement results fom David Cameron’s promise “not to let the matter of the Lisbon Treaty rest” even if the Irish vote to support it in a second referendum this October. France and Germany are also concerned that David Cameron intends to withdraw Conservative MEPs from the federalist European People's Party (EPP) after the imminent EU Parliamentary elections. Additionally, David Cameron's support for Turkey's EU membership application offends both the French and the Germans who are opposed to it. "We cannot take in everyone in Europe as a full member," said Miss Merkel.
A knowledge of European history reveals how France and Germany became the ‘Engine of Europe’. It shows that France has not won a military campaign for well over two hundred years. This has debilitated France’s sense of pride and points to their largely anti-British feelings. In the 39-45 war Germany invaded France on 10th May 1940. It had captured Paris by the 14th June and obtained the French surrender by the 25th June. The Germans then divided France into three zones, one Italian occupied zone, one German occupied zone, and the third collaborationist Vichy zone. In Vichy France the famous revolutionary principles of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" were replaced by "Work, Family, Fatherland". So a partnership between France and Germany had begun to develop.
After the war, after hanging one or two Vichy leaders, the French then realised the advantages of the combination of the French vast agricultural economy combined with German industry. A series of agreements and treaties developed mainly concerning coal and steel production. This led to the Treaty of Rome 1957 which formed the European Economic Community with both France and Germany as leading members. This burgeoned into the European Union in [as the then EEC] 1957. The die for the combined German and French take-over of Europe had been cast.
In 1963 a Treaty of Friendship (the Élysée Treaty) was signed by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer. It sealed the relationship between the two countries and mostly brought to an end the longstanding rivalries between them. The Treaty was inspired by Charles De Gaulle's belief that there should be a stronger core within Europe without the Americans and the British whom he regarded as being too influential on the continent. One of the key points of the treaty is that whenever important issues are to be discussed internationally or within the EU, France and Germany will meet beforehand to agree a common position.
The Élysée Treaty celebrated its 40th Anniversary on 22 January 2003. France and Germany chose Versailles as their symbolic rendezvous intending to put an end to their warring past. At Versailles, the Allies forced a humiliated Germany to sign the armistice that ended World War I. The chateau is also a site of French humiliation. At Versailles, after beating France in an 1870-71 war, Germany proclaimed itself an empire.
At the meeting on 22 January 2003 further steps were announced to bring the two largest EU countries together. The principal suggestion was that in due course the two countries would combine and have a shared nationality. No details were given but there appeared to be no dissent. The French President Jacques Chirac said: "This huge ensemble of 450 million people will face risks and challenges," and added: "It will need to find a centre of gravity." The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder echoed the need for closer cooperation: "Few things get done in Europe if France and Germany don't agree."
This brief history explains why Angela Merkel can describe France and Germany as ‘the engine of Europe’. It also explains the falsehood of British politicians and EU supporters who claim that we need to be at the heart of Europe when clearly we never will be. The principal reason that we are allowed membership is because we are net-contributors to the funding.
It is often stated in Britain that Germany is achieving by economic means what it failed to achieve militarily. The above is tangible evidence to support that argument.
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Thursday, 14 May 2009