I used a monthly token to make the article visible to whomever I shared the link to. Does this not work on Reddit? Lmk, I’ll supplement with some excerpts in that case.
“France and Italy were at such odds two years ago that Paris recalled its ambassador and a spat between leaders descended into name-calling, but
a Franco-Italian “friendship treaty” that President Emmanuel Macron will sign in Rome this week shows how the mood has changed. Meant to spur closer collaboration on everything from foreign policy to defence and culture, the 60-page Quirinale Treaty mirrors a Franco-German deal from 1963. The idea was discussed in 2017 by Macron and former Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni, but was sunk the following year by Italy’s coalition of Five Star and the nationalist League, which clashed badly with Paris over migration to the EU.
”
“Politically, the Draghi government wants to use a better relationship with Paris to play a more active role at a European level — particularly at a time when Germany is expected to be focused more on domestic politics as a new government takes the reins from Angela Merkel.”
“The bridge between Rome and Paris could also help to negotiate a post-pandemic reform of the EU’s fiscal rules. The Stability and Growth Pact aims to limit government deficits and debt and is currently suspended because of the pandemic. A battle may loom over reform with so-called “frugal” countries such as Austria, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.”
“Discussions over the possible sale of an Italian weapons maker owned by state-controlled defence group Leonardo to a French rival could prove one early test. People close to the deal talks had been expecting the sale to be discussed during the French visit, but Italian doubts mean a decision could take a lot longer to hash out.”
This is why the whole ”Germany runs the EU” has never made sense to me
There is not enough of a population discrepancy for Germany to run the EU.
Germany: 84 million
France + Italy: 127 million
Spain, Poland + Sweden: 96 million
There are a bunch of different combinations all where countries could easily tell Germany to metaphorically fuck off, even more so in the European Parliament where smaller countries are over-represented
Macron wants to replace Germany’s role in the EU, therefore he tries to be good friends with every country in it, while on a sidehustle trying to remove french competitors from market. (Italian arms manufacturer to be sold to French competitor)
First the raybans and now…
Missed a great opportunity to call it friendship with benefits.
Watch Italy switch sides
Wonder what the lines would look like in 20 years. It’s somewhat obvious that the block is forming subgroups which try to increase their influence and somewhat inevitable in an union this big. The V4 is looking like a solid block that would continue to exert influence in the future. Things like Three Seas is obviously not going to go anywhere in terms of united its participants. If France manages to secure something that doesn’t include Germany, I wonder which countries Germany will try to pull into its orbit…
Interesting times ahead for sure.
I know a way to break those, with a stupid debate.
Mont blanc is 100% french
10 comments
I used a monthly token to make the article visible to whomever I shared the link to. Does this not work on Reddit? Lmk, I’ll supplement with some excerpts in that case.
“France and Italy were at such odds two years ago that Paris recalled its ambassador and a spat between leaders descended into name-calling, but
a Franco-Italian “friendship treaty” that President Emmanuel Macron will sign in Rome this week shows how the mood has changed. Meant to spur closer collaboration on everything from foreign policy to defence and culture, the 60-page Quirinale Treaty mirrors a Franco-German deal from 1963. The idea was discussed in 2017 by Macron and former Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni, but was sunk the following year by Italy’s coalition of Five Star and the nationalist League, which clashed badly with Paris over migration to the EU.
”
“Politically, the Draghi government wants to use a better relationship with Paris to play a more active role at a European level — particularly at a time when Germany is expected to be focused more on domestic politics as a new government takes the reins from Angela Merkel.”
“The bridge between Rome and Paris could also help to negotiate a post-pandemic reform of the EU’s fiscal rules. The Stability and Growth Pact aims to limit government deficits and debt and is currently suspended because of the pandemic. A battle may loom over reform with so-called “frugal” countries such as Austria, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.”
“Discussions over the possible sale of an Italian weapons maker owned by state-controlled defence group Leonardo to a French rival could prove one early test. People close to the deal talks had been expecting the sale to be discussed during the French visit, but Italian doubts mean a decision could take a lot longer to hash out.”
Friendship with the French? NEVER!
[https://img.ilgcdn.com/sites/default/files/styles/xl/public/foto/2016/07/09/1468058629-cattura.jpg?_=1468058629](https://img.ilgcdn.com/sites/default/files/styles/xl/public/foto/2016/07/09/1468058629-cattura.jpg?_=1468058629)
This is why the whole ”Germany runs the EU” has never made sense to me
There is not enough of a population discrepancy for Germany to run the EU.
Germany: 84 million
France + Italy: 127 million
Spain, Poland + Sweden: 96 million
There are a bunch of different combinations all where countries could easily tell Germany to metaphorically fuck off, even more so in the European Parliament where smaller countries are over-represented
Macron wants to replace Germany’s role in the EU, therefore he tries to be good friends with every country in it, while on a sidehustle trying to remove french competitors from market. (Italian arms manufacturer to be sold to French competitor)
First the raybans and now…
Missed a great opportunity to call it friendship with benefits.
Watch Italy switch sides
Wonder what the lines would look like in 20 years. It’s somewhat obvious that the block is forming subgroups which try to increase their influence and somewhat inevitable in an union this big. The V4 is looking like a solid block that would continue to exert influence in the future. Things like Three Seas is obviously not going to go anywhere in terms of united its participants. If France manages to secure something that doesn’t include Germany, I wonder which countries Germany will try to pull into its orbit…
Interesting times ahead for sure.
I know a way to break those, with a stupid debate.
Mont blanc is 100% french
Magnifico !