What should be in new Elysée Treaty?
French parliamentarians visited the German Bundestag on Monday while German MPs took part in a session at the National Assembly in Paris. To mark the 55th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty both parliaments passed a resolution for the renewal of the Franco-German friendship agreement. Media in the two countries outline what the pact should contain.
Motor of change must not marginalise others
A war between Germany and France is unthinkable today, prompting the Süddeutsche Zeitung to wonder about the motives for a new edition of the Elysée Treaty:
“Those who want an Élysée treaty today are in fact seeking a new formula for boosting the political dynamism of a European Union with Germany and France at its core. ... But in Central Europe and most of the smaller EU countries people are suspicious and warn against this Franco-German motor. There is talk of dictates, of a transaction to the detriment of all others, of exclusion. Even if one takes the view that this sluggish Europe could do with a dose of courage and pressure from its biggest members and net contributors - there are not entirely unjustified concerns about the true motives behind all this enthusiasm for a new EU.”
Make joint Africa policy a priority
The Franco-German tandem must concentrate on developing a common Africa policy, writes Sylvain Maillard, a Member of the National Assembly for Macron's La République en Marche party, in Le HuffPost:
“Our economic and security policy interests compel us to focus our attention on Africa. ... Let's get one thing straight: Europe's peace and prosperity depend on peace and prosperity in Africa. If we don't approach Africa with a positive logic of development we will bear the responsibility for the lack of results and be the unwilling observers - and victims - of the main threat to Europe's security: conflicts of uncontrollable proportions. Let's not kid ourselves: the crisis of 2015 which saw a million refugees arrive in Europe was just a warning.”