During her inaugural trip to Berlin, France's Prime Minister Borne is trying to get the ailing Franco-German relations going again. She emphasizes the friendship between the two countries. However, there is no major breakthrough on controversial points.
From a postponed initial trip to a relationship check - France's Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne made every effort during her trip to Berlin to get Franco-German relations going again. On Friday she met Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Differing positions on key issues and a lack of communication had stumped the Franco-German axis, which became clear with the postponement of a joint Council of Ministers at the end of October.
After their meeting, SPD man Scholz and Borne emphasized above all unity. "It is clear that the more difficult times are, the more important the Franco-German partnership is," said the Chancellor. "Franco-German relations are extraordinarily close and rich." The Parisian head of government emphasized that the friendship between the two countries was crucial. In the critical situation in which Europe finds itself, the strength of the relationship between the two countries is more important than ever.
In Borne, the chancellor met a prime minister who was initially underestimated and who has since gained respect. When Borne took office in May, there were still some doubts as to whether she would be able to remain at the head of government for long. For 30 years and for the second time ever, a woman has taken over the top post, which in France is overshadowed by the powerful president. After six months, however, it is clear that the 61-year-old not only has the reins firmly in hand. For President Emmanuel Macron, during his domestically difficult second term in office, she has also become the woman on the front line.
Despite all this, the ex-socialist, who is considered a technocrat, appears calm and matter-of-fact to the outside world and gives little insight into her plans or strategy. Borne, who turned to the French in a cardigan with energy-saving appeals, is a complete antithesis to Macron, who is concerned about external impact and appearance. The engineer doesn't make a fuss about herself, exudes little charisma.
There was no major breakthrough in Berlin on contentious issues such as energy policy, defense or a unified response to American protectionism - and that was not immediately expected, either, as it was said in advance in Paris. Scholz and Borne signed a statement of solidarity in the energy sector. In the energy agreement negotiated by Economics Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens and France's Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Germany has pledged to supply electricity to France. France, in turn, supplies Germany with gas.
Now that the discord has been eliminated and the chemistry is right again, bilateral and European issues could be tackled more smoothly by France and Germany again, and close ranks are essential for this, it said in the Élysée Palace. With all this, time is also a little short - on January 22 next year, the 60th birthday of the Élysée Treaty will be celebrated, which laid the foundation for the friendship between the two countries.
There was a lively diplomatic journey this week to work on the substantive issues of energy price caps, air defense protection shields, the networking of electricity and gas supplies or a common industrial policy. France's Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak was drawn to Berlin, while Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (both Greens) were guests in Paris. What was noticeable and what is unusual is that the two green heavyweights in the federal government and Lindner were each received by President Macron - possibly in addition to maintaining relationships and strategy.
