German and French leaders meet ahead of EU summit
French President Jacques Chirac underlined the importance of close Franco-German co-operation today as German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted much of his government in Berlin for talks ahead of next week’s European Union summit.
The gathering of ministers from the two countries was the first since Merkel took office in November.
However, the conservative leader already has held several meetings with Chirac, keeping up close Franco-German contacts that grew under her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder.
The two countries, along with Britain, have been at the forefront of efforts to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear intentions.
At a European level, potential issues include EU nations’ efforts to agree on a military mission to support UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as efforts to modernise Europe’s economy and spur growth, set to be the focus of the March 23-to-24 EU summit.
At today’s talks, Chirac stressed “the importance of permanent co-ordination between our two countries” in order to “permit Europe to progress”.
“Europe will only find the answers if, as in the past, Germany and France show it the way and manage to overcome their differences when they exist,” he told a plenary session.
Chirac underlined the two countries’ welcome for a compromise agreed by the European Parliament on a draft law that aims to open up Europe’s services sector to competition.
Several countries want to reintroduce two clauses allowing companies use their national law when they do business anywhere in the EU.
The German and French officials planned today to discuss co-operation on research, ways of integrating foreigners and promoting equal opportunities for young people.
Future energy policy also was expected to feature in the talks, at a time when French utility company Suez SA is embarking on a government-backed merger with state-controlled Gaz de France, a plan that has met with criticism elsewhere in Europe.
With tensions mounting at home over a new French labour law, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin stayed in Paris rather than attending the Berlin meeting.
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