France welcomes Germany’s new ‘pro-European’ coalition agreement
The coalition deal struck between three parties that will form Germany’s next government is very much in line with France’s own ambitions and priorities, including its vision of a more federal EU.
The 24 November agreement between the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the liberal FDP, branded as “Dare for more progress – an alliance for freedom, justice and sustainability”, comes just weeks before France is taking over the rotating EU Council presidency in January.
It includes proposals for transnational lists in the European elections, a “compulsory Spitzenkandidat system”, a right of initiative for the European Parliament, respect for the rule of law, a follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, and the “evolution of the EU towards a European federal state”.
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The French foreign ministry also indicated that it wanted to “work quickly with the next German government.”
- “There is a form of euphoria around this agreement since there seems to be a real willingness to govern together” on the part of the three parties, which “managed to find what they had in common,” Paul Maurice, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations’ study committee on Franco-German relations, told EURACTIV.
A more federal Europe
- “More European federalism may also mean more manoeuvring room for France,” said Maurice, anticipating that these differences between Paris and Berlin could help Macron, who faces a presidential election in April, position himself as Europe’s leader, with German support.
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Nuclear energy
The very sensitive issue of nuclear power, a key point of disagreement within the Franco-German couple, was not directly mentioned in the agreement, which can be interpreted as a sign that Berlin wants to avoid tensions with Paris on the matter.
This does not change Germany’s nuclear phase out plans, though. The new German coalition has set itself an ambitious 80% target for renewables by 2030, without revisiting the current plan to phase out the country’s nuclear power plants.
- The ‘super” economy, climate and energy ministry foreseen in the coalition agreement will go to the Greens, who Maurice noted are “still very much opposed to nuclear power.”
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