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The 7 - Current Events & Politics - Now Representing Germany: Jacques Chirac Register and log in to post!
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Grimis
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#1 Posted on 17.10.03 0821.45
Reposted on: 17.10.10 0822.53
This is quite possibly one of the weirdest things I've seen before. Considering that the Franco-German relationship hasn't always been quite this spiffy.

* * * * * * *
Chirac to represent Germany at EU summit
BY RICHARD COLWILL

Franco-German relations will reach a new high on Friday after Berlin announced that President Jacques Chirac will represent Germany at a European Union summit.

Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Joschka Fischer, his Foreign Minister, have to leave the summit early in order to attend a vital parliamentary vote in Berlin.

In his absence, Herr Schröder will entrust the defence of Germany's national interests to M Chirac.

The two countries have never represented each other at a European summit before, although many regard the Franco-German relationship as the most important in the EU.

An German official said: "This is unprecedented and underlines how close we are … If Germany should have any input to make for Friday’s [summit] conclusions, Chirac will present them on behalf of Germany."

The idea was discussed between the two leaders at an informal meeting at the Elysée Palace in Paris at the weekend.

Much of the focus at the summit has been on the difficult issue of the draft EU constitution, which is designed to get the European bloc ready for the entry of ten more member states in May next year.

The Italian presidency wants the constitution to be finalised by the end of the year.

France and Germany, traditionally the driving force behind European integration, have resisted the demands of smaller member states for wholesale changes to the draft constitution.

The two countries have enjoyed close relations in recent months, and have co-ordinated their positions on issues ranging from their opposition to the war in Iraq to the development of the European constitution.

However, relations between the two countries fell to an historic low during the EU summit in Nice in 2000.

Subsequent efforts to build bridges have seen an increase in the number of meetings between Herr Schröder and M Chirac, as well as joint Cabinet meetings.


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BigVitoMark
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#2 Posted on 17.10.03 2136.47
Reposted on: 17.10.10 2136.56
Interesting, but what does Schröder have to lose? It's not as if the French would ever dare raise the ire of the Germans again.
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