France and Germany become one superpower: Uniting Forces

Angela Merkel and President Makron are expected to sign an agreement to pave the way for neighbours to establish a common diplomatic front and act jointly on peacekeeping missions.

Local borders on the border between France and Germany will be encouraged to create “eurodecte”, with joint water supply networks, electricity and public transportation. Berlin and Paris will provide subsidies for joint hospitals, joint business schemes and environment. Some officials see this experiment as evidence of further EU integration in the future.

Both countries will lobby for Germany to take a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, alongside France, the United States, China, Russia and Britain, the victorious allies of World War II.

France and Germany will also speak unanimously in Brussels, establishing joint positions ahead of key EU summits so that the European bloc will be an even stronger force in the world arena. The agreement is expected to convey the message that France and Germany will continue to strongly support the values of multilatheralism, at a time when the liberal world order appears to be threatened. Makron and Merkel have expressed their concerns about increasing populism and nationalism, while Europe faces problems such as climate changes and mass migration.

Merkel declared that Germany would rise up and fight for multilaterlamism, and that it was ready to take on more responsibility in the world. A year ago, diplomats from these countries began negotiating an agreement that follows the spirit of the 1963 treaty in Elyze, which led to centuries-old hostilities being put aside and allowing the Franco-German coalition to develop that has dominated the EU project since then. The document will be signed on January 22nd, in Aahen, an ancient German spa town located on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands. This agreement is expected to be ratified by the two parliaments at the same time.

The place to be kept is filled with symbolism. Aahen, known in France as Aix- La-Chapel, was the imperial capital under the direction of the Great Charles, and has repeatedly passed under the control of France, sometimes under that of Germany. Some details that have come out of the Aahen Agreement describe a harmonisation of business regulations and co-ordination of economic policies among states, run by a joint expert council.

The text carries traces of Makron's desire to use the Franco-German consensus as an incentive that would further strengthen the EU's role as world power.

The two governments will agree to hold regular consultations on all levels before major European summits, as well as to come up with joint statements. The agreement adds: “will stand for stronger foreign and defence policies, as well as deepen the union of the economy and the common currency. ”

This lay the foundation for a Franco-German council that would act as a political orientation group, with each side influencing the other's decisions. Berlin and Paris will constantly exchange diplomats and civil servants. The ministers of one country will regularly sit at meetings of the country's government.

As for the military, the agreement restores ambition to create a common culture for engagement outside borders. A possible model for this is the presence of 15,000 military forces in Mali, a former French colony that has been run in part by the Twareg tribes rebels and Islamic groups linked to Al Qaeda since early 2012.

While France runs the fighting, German forces have supplied one of the largest non-africian contingents, with 370 German troops still standing there today.

Diplomats from several EU countries view the Aahen agreement with suspicion. There are concerns that a greater co-operation between the bloc's two most powerful economies could create a superpower that would suppress any dissatisfied.

The goal of Berlin to take a permanent seat at the UN Security Council is expected to anger some leaders in Brussels, who may think this country should be given the EU. After Brexit away, only one of the five Security Council countries is from the EU.

Germany, which has started a limited two-year presence in the council since the beginning of this month, has guaranteed a country once in eight years due to economic and geopolitical importance.

The agreement is expected to face objections in both countries. Although the project has support from all major political parties, it will be rejected by left and right extremes.

Alexander Gauland, leader of the AfD in Germany, has described it as the destruction of national sovereignty. While Le Pen, in France, leader of the National Front, said it was a disbalanced dictatorship from Germany. /tch