Differences accumulate between Paris and Berlin. Germany decided this Wednesday to postpone until January the Franco-German Council of Ministers that was going to be held on October 26 in Fontainebleau. The reason was not specified. Berlin invokes “logistical difficulties” for certain ministers, “who for other obligations could not have participated in the council.”
But behind this argument, it is the burning issues between the two countries that caused the postponement. During a press conference, the German government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, admitted that there are “a whole series of issues (…) on which we have not yet reached a common position.”
A German-European defense?
The war in Ukraine has deepened disagreements between France and Germany with the defense question at the center. In addition to common programs such as the plane of the future Scaf, the armored MGCS or the modernization program called Tiger Mark III, whose outcome has dragged on for years, Berlin has presented a European air shield project. It is based on the American F-35 and the Israeli Iron Dome. 14 European countries want to join, including Britain, the Baltic states, the Netherlands and even Finland. Paris remains on the sidelines of this initiative.
The postponement of the Franco-German Council of Ministers could further delay the progress of the Scaf on which Dassault and Airbus continue to disagree. The European group is challenging the French industrialist for the management of the NGF project, the fifth generation aircraft at the heart of the combat system. Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, does not hide the development of a plan B. For his part, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, responds that he is also considering “other options”.
go for free
In addition to these issues, there is now an energy disagreement. The German Greens, who participate in the government of Olaf Scholz, criticize the failures of the French nuclear program, which would pose a threat to the energy supply of the two countries. In gas, with the leaks from the NordStream gas pipelines, Berlin advocates the reactivation of a gas pipeline project linking Spain with Germany, which France opposes.
The two governments only have a few weeks left to find common ground to try to rebuild before January or go it alone on strategic issues with a European dimension.
Source: BFM TV
