It’s such a pity that the British haven’t found it within themselves to get into the spirit of the EU, for the British, too, could have been part of this axis, the British could have been part of the entente. The British, alas, prefer to moan on the sidelines – they prefer to bemoan their loss of sovereignty, bemoan their loss of influence in the world.
We, too, could be part of the eurozone (I’m sure that big business would love us to be). We, too, could be a force in Europe to be reckoned with. The French and Germans are our brothers and sisters in Europe. We, too, should be embracing each other. Unfortunately, we prefer to be triumphalist; but in so being, we are losing sight of the future, losing sight of the bounty that could be ahead of us. What a pity! Quel dommage! Wie Schade! – © Mark
TIMES ONLINE: France and Germany pledged themselves to renewed partnership at the core of the European Union yesterday as Chancellor Angela Merkel became the first German leader to mark Armistice Day with the French.
President Sarkozy stood beside Ms Merkel below the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at a ceremony of reconciliation that he staged as part of his plan for a grand relaunch of the old Franco-German axis. The immediate impact is a joint Franco-German list of candidates for the EU Presidency and other top Brussels jobs under the newly ratified Lisbon treaty.
"We share the same values, the same ambition for Europe, the same currency," Mr Sarkozy said. "So it is natural that French and German policy should be conducted more and more closely." Ms Merkel voiced German contrition over the suffering of the French in two world wars. "What happened cannot be forgotten, but there is a force that can help us ... the force of reconciliation," she said.
Ms Merkel, who has warmed to "Super-Sarko" after a bumpy first two years, called the reconciliation a miracle and a gift. "When there is antagonism between us, everybody loses," she said. "When we are united, everybody wins," she told a ceremony that included French and German military personnel.
"Lieber Nicolas" and "Chere [sic] Angela", as they addressed one-another, also conferred privately on the new EU posts. On Monday in Berlin they were reported to have agreed on Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian Prime Minister, but the equation has changed with the withdrawal of David Miliband, who they supported for the new EU Foreign affairs post. >>> Charles Bremner in Paris | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: David Miliband rules himself out as EU foreign minister: David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, has publicly ruled himself out of the running to be the European Union's new foreign minister. >>> Damien McElroy | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
