Franco-German meet stresses on greater European defence

[Ulhas Joglekar]

1 December 1999
Franco-German meet stresses on greater European defence
PARIS: French and German leaders, holding a one-day summit on Tuesday, were
expected to endorse calls for a European Union rapid reaction force to
strengthen the continent's military muscle and counterbalance US power.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met
for an hour on Tuesday morning. The discussed EU budget reform, preparations
for the December EU Helsinki summit, and the Chechnya conflict.
But defence was dominating the 74th summit between the two countries, and a
statement was to be released later on Tuesday, echoing one by France and
Britain last week for a 50,000-60,000-strong force capable of full
deployment within 60 days for at least a year. France and Germany also want
to boost Europe's air force capabilities.
Later on Tuesday, Schroeder will address France's National Assembly,
becoming the first German chancellor, and only the fifth foreign dignitary,
to do so.
It will be an opportunity for Schroeder to iron over disputes which have
strained ties between the two powers since he took office last year. France
and Germany are Europe's biggest nations, each other's biggest trading
partners, and the engine behind the European Union.
But Schroeder has been making strong overtures towards London since taking
office and has said he does not see the Paris-Berlin link as exclusive
anymore.
The two countries clashed last year when Schroeder said Germany would
gradually wean itself off nuclear power -- a move which would deal a blow to
France's nuclear power industry which does lucrative business reprocessing
nuclear fuel from German power plants.
Germany also wants national governments to take over some farm subsidies to
ease the burden on EU coffers -- an idea strongly rejected by Paris.
Also attending Tuesday's summit were French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine
and Germany's Joschka Fischer, as well as the heads of defence, education
and transport ministries, among others. (Associated Press)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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