The New Franco-German Rituals

[t_co]

Commentary: The New Franco-German Rituals | The National Interest

The state of the Franco-German alliance demonstrates just how gaps in economic-performance numbers can drive countries apart—in this instance, countries of the Eurozone. The more Germany outperforms its neighbors in growth and unemployment, the sooner its dominance will reach a point where it feels less beholden to the spirit of compromise that has characterized Franco-German relations and fostered the "motor" of European construction. Germans feel vindicated by their difficult structural reforms undertaken in the early 2000s and are increasingly disdainful of those who shirk similar responsibilities, all the more so when they are asked to finance that very irresponsibility.

A few figures tell the story: While Germany reported a budget surplus, France posted a deficit of almost 5 percent of its GDP. German unemployment (5.4 percent) and youth unemployment (8 percent) are a fraction of French levels (10.5 percent and 24.6 percent, respectively). These are Germany's best numbers in more than a decade, and France's worst unemployment in fourteen years. In this year's first quarter, Germany's economy grew slightly while the French and broader Eurozone economies contracted by 0.3 percent. Recent estimates that the Eurozone shrank again in the second quarter would make for seven quarters of negative growth in a row.

As the situation drags on, it will soon be fair to say that France can be considered the Eurozone's second-largest economy only in the sense that the European Union has the world's second-largest military budget. Disparity on this scale between the leader and everyone else fundamentally alters the balance of power. France is rapidly joining "the rest": its economy and public opinion are trending toward Southern Europe.

German public and elite opinion, meanwhile, now resembles British-style Euroskepticism: why should we link our fate to these jokers? Germans ask themselves, not unjustly, whether this variant of European unification is the albatross they must bear ad infinitum to atone for the belligerence of their forebears. German taxpayers have paid reparations towards Israel and the mostly Jewish victims of the Third Reich amounting to roughly $89 billion. But that was a one-off. Germany can reasonably argue that without structural changes, there is no end in sight to their European solidarity. As of this spring, Germany had contributed over $280 billion to Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain.

@Armand2REP

Some food for thought, while you fantasize about France locking down the Straits of Malacca

 

[drkrn]

Commentary: The New Franco-German Rituals | The National Interest



@Armand2REP

Some food for thought, while you fantasize about France locking down the Straits of Malacca

German education and health sector is one of the worlds best,but people who completed their education in Germany are moving out of Germany to countries like UK and Swiss for better pay.more over population demographics of Germany(France is positive because of immigrants) is near negative or negative trend which probably added together is responsible for such lesser unemployment.
And of course under the leadership of Angela Merkel Germany is the new economic leader of European union.

on contrary the general shift of general public towards more socialist policies resulting in victory of Hollande govt. should have hit France which did not make any cuts in non productive spending's leaving 5 % deficit.and even the once well establish french industries are losing ground internationally due to unfavorable situations.

so whats your intention here??

 

[W.G.Ewald]

The meaning of the title appears in the last paragraph of the article.

The new Franco-German rituals—initial opposition followed by protracted negotiations and some concessions—help avoid creating moral hazard for debtor countries and has had a calming effect on international markets. One could describe Hollande's approach as "altruistic misdirection." Its effects are ultimately pro-European. Germany will continue to drag its feet—but it will do so while inching ever further away from its own nonstarters. These theatrical performances are not purely for domestic consumption. Germany's "egotistical intransigence," as French Socialists put it this spring, is good for Europe.

 

[drkrn]

The meaning of the title appears in the last paragraph of the article.

i feel difficulty to understand the verbal elegance.pls care to re write in simple words

 

[W.G.Ewald]

i feel difficulty to understand the verbal elegance.pls care to re write in simple words

I would prefer to be paid for editing. :-D

 

[drkrn]

I would prefer to be paid for editing. :-D

will pay u with praises :thumb: