A growing row between Germany and France threatens to destabilise the European Union at a time when each country is sliding into political turmoil.
Last week, European CommissionPresident Ursula von der Leyen jetted off to South America to negotiate an EU trade deal with five countries which has divided opinion amongst the trading bloc’s two biggest countries.
The deal, negotiated with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia and known as the Mercosur deal, has been celebrated in Germany, who see the deal as an opportunity to open up a new market for the country’s troubled manufacturing industry.
Isabel Cademartori from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats said in a parliamentary debate: “A really good day for Europe and also for Germany. This federal government has fought with a lot of energy to ensure that this free trade agreement comes about.”
However, the French fear the deal will allow cheap poultry to flow into Europe at the detriment of their farmers, and the country has repeatedly vetoed any proposals on the matter.
But a post on X by Von der Leyen appeared to suggest a deal was close, as she posted: “Let’s work. Let’s cross it,” following her meeting with the countries’ leaders in Montevideo.
The rift between the two largest countries in the bloc drives a dagger into the heart of the European Commission where one of the central competencies is to negotiate trade deals.
France’s sustained attempts to frustrate the striking of a deal with the South American group led many in Berlin to wonder whether or not it would make more sense for the country to take charge of its own deals, especially as leaders become more conscious of growing support for eurosceptic, far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD).
But France has a right-wing problem of its own and an EU deal which could threaten the livelihood of the country’s farmers is likely to further aid Marine Le Pen in her efforts to win power.
Ultimately, conflicting interests for the two countries mean that one is destined to come away furious regardless of the outcome, but Von der Leyen has been accused of using the recent turmoil in French politics to force through a deal.
Christophe Grudler, a French member of the European Parliament, said: “Ursula von der Leyen could not have chosen a worse moment than this. It’s a big mistake to do this now.
“It really gives the impression of taking advantage of the crisis in France to try and get ahead on her own.”
It is not the first time the two countries have come into conflict over the strategic direction of the EU.
In October, Germany voted against imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles over fears that a retaliatory response could severely damage the country’s automobile industry.
France however voted in favour of the motion, leading China to respond with tariffs of their own on French champagne and cognac.
