Germany’s Decision Divided Europe! The French are Angry with Scholz, the Critical Meeting has Been Postponed!
The 200 billion Euro aid package announced by Germany against the energy crisis divided the European Union. While it was alleged that the French were particularly angry with Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron did not want to meet with his German counterpart and the planned annual meeting was postponed. French and German officials stressed that the two leaders needed “more time” before meeting, and did not give much detail on the tension.
European countries, which are preparing for a cold and dark winter after the Ukraine war that started on February 24, are looking for a solution to the energy crisis that started with Putin‘s cut off the gas going to the continent.
AID PACKAGE REACTED FROM GERMANY: EUR 200 BILLION
While the Energy Crisis and rising living costs have put many countries in trouble, including Germany, Europe’s largest economy, the Scholz government announced that they will help consumers and businesses cope with rising energy prices with a 200 billion Euro aid package announced in the past weeks.
“THE DECISION WILL LEAD TO DECREASE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION”
Germany’s generous aid package has caused reactions with the claim that it undermines the competitiveness of the poorer countries of the European Union. The biggest reaction to the package, which had an earthquake effect in Europe, came from Germany’s oldest partner, France.
In a statement to the French newspaper Les Echos this week, French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the Scholz government’s support plan would cause ‘disruptions’ in the European Union and said, “If we want a coherent approach, it is European strategy, not national strategies, that must be adopted.”
WHY DID GERMANY FRENCH SO ANGRY?
So why did Germany’s aid plan anger the French so much? According to an analysis published in the British Telegraph newspaper today, France is uncomfortable with its biggest partner in the EU taking such a decision without consulting them.
In addition, the aid package announced by Germany foresees that a budget of 100 billion Euros will be spent on US weapons to be purchased to increase the military capacity of the country, instead of European Union Defense projects.
FRANCE ‘ESPECIALLY ANGRY’, GERMANS COMPLAIN ABOUT FRENCH HYPORACY
According to the news in the Telegraph newspaper, France is particularly angry with Berlin because Germany has chosen US weapons over the defense of the European Union.
The Germans also allegedly complained privately of French hypocrisy and selfishness.
CRITICAL MEETING ADDRESSED: LEADERS NEED TIME
While the rising tension between the two countries points to the growing division in energy and defense between the EU countries, it has been announced that the annual consultation meeting between Germany and France has been postponed.
French and German officials stressed that the two leaders needed more time before meeting, and did not give much detail on the Macron and Scholz tensions.
“THEY DON’T SAY IT IN SOCIETY BUT THEY ARE VERY ANGRY AT SCHOLZ”
Speaking to the Telegraph newspaper, a European source said that the French are really angry with the Germans, especially Prime Minister Scholz, “They don’t say this in public, but they are very angry in private.”
ANSWER TO THE CRITICISM FROM GERMANY: “We are NOT SELF, IF GERMANY FAILS, EUROPE FAILS”
The first response came from Germany for the criticisms pouring on the aid package. In an interview given to the Financial Times by German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, he used the following statements, arguing that energy aid packages are not ‘selfish’;
“If the German economy collapses, the entire EU economy will collapse with it, so the 200 billion euro aid package approved by the German government recently is actually an aid to the entire European Union. We are not selfish, we are trying to stabilize an economy in the heart of Europe”
