Paris-Berlin Relations Turn Sour

Tempers fraying in Merkel's camp after 2 high-level cancellations
By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 27, 2008 10:08 AM CST
Paris-Berlin Relations Turn Sour
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, sits with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Economic Summit in 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth,Pool)   (Associated Press)

Only a week after Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel called off a scheduled meeting, France and Germany's finance ministers canceled their own summit yesterday, reports AFP. While nobody wants to say that the leaders of Europe's two largest countries are getting testy with each other, disagreements over economic policy and the EU's role have led to markedly tense relations.

While predecessors Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder were chummy, Sarkozy and Merkel are not getting along. One major issue is Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union, the so-called "Club Med" that the excluded Germany says will divide Europe. The new alliance is set to launch in July, but Merkel has only been asked to attend an after-party. "Germany is only invited for dessert," said one observer. (More Angela Merkel stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X