In a friendly "European family" began a real mess
In April last year, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the United States. The young and ambitious head of the Fifth Republic clearly wished to take a leading role in the negotiations between Europe and Washington on key issues. Donald Trump extremely warmly welcomed a guest from Paris, and even publicly led him by the hand, which caused a lot of ridicule.
At the reception, President Macron raised a solemn toast:
Less than a year has passed since that memorable meeting, but Macron’s position and the situation in France itself have undergone significant changes. As you know, the main pillars of the European Union are Germany and France, followed by Great Britain and Italy. Great Britain should leave the EU at the end of March this year. Let us try to evaluate what a warm friendship with the United States in its relations with its closest neighbors has turned out to be for Paris.
Germany
The theme of the past few years has been the confrontation between the United States and Russia and the Federal Republic of Germany over the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline under construction. Moscow needs the sale of hydrocarbons to Europe, Berlin needs diversification of suppliers and low fuel prices in order to maintain the competitiveness of its industry. Washington needs to squeeze Gazprom out of the EU market in order to start selling its own LNG there, as well as increase the cost of production in Europe so that American industrialists get an advantage over them.
France does not directly affect Nord Stream-2. The Fifth Republic at one time relied on nuclear energy and is in first place in the world for this indicator. Now, when the Russian-German gas pipeline is already close to the stage of completion, President Macron defiantly refused a joint statement with Chancellor Merkel on this energy project. Moreover, Paris intends to revise the EU gas directive, which will affect the pipeline under construction. Macron's confidant called it "symbolically a signal."
Italy
Disagreement with this state in France under Macron began a long time ago. The stumbling block was the different attitude of Paris and Rome on the issue of migration. Macron does not see a problem in refugees arriving in Italy from Africa, and considers "extremists" those who "play on fear." In response, the Italian president was called the “insolent” in the Italian government, inviting him to personally meet the migrants. The French president has entrusted himself with the crown of the main fighter with the right-wing forces of Europe:
The Italians did not remain in debt and considered that the main enemy of Macron, judging by his record anti-ratings, is the French people. Mass protests against policy French President can serve in favor of that judgment. Matteo Salvini said he hoped the French people could make a different choice in the next presidential campaign. Prominent representatives of the Italian government, who had previously made harsh statements against Macron, met with leaders of the French protest movement and expressed public support for them. In response, Paris pointedly recalled its ambassador from Rome.
As we can observe, in a once friendly European family a real mess began. It is very significant that this process intensified after the beginning of the rapprochement of France with the United States.
At the reception, President Macron raised a solemn toast:
Let me raise my glass and make a toast to our citizens on both sides of the ocean, to our values and freedoms! For the friendship between France and the United States!
Less than a year has passed since that memorable meeting, but Macron’s position and the situation in France itself have undergone significant changes. As you know, the main pillars of the European Union are Germany and France, followed by Great Britain and Italy. Great Britain should leave the EU at the end of March this year. Let us try to evaluate what a warm friendship with the United States in its relations with its closest neighbors has turned out to be for Paris.
Germany
The theme of the past few years has been the confrontation between the United States and Russia and the Federal Republic of Germany over the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline under construction. Moscow needs the sale of hydrocarbons to Europe, Berlin needs diversification of suppliers and low fuel prices in order to maintain the competitiveness of its industry. Washington needs to squeeze Gazprom out of the EU market in order to start selling its own LNG there, as well as increase the cost of production in Europe so that American industrialists get an advantage over them.
France does not directly affect Nord Stream-2. The Fifth Republic at one time relied on nuclear energy and is in first place in the world for this indicator. Now, when the Russian-German gas pipeline is already close to the stage of completion, President Macron defiantly refused a joint statement with Chancellor Merkel on this energy project. Moreover, Paris intends to revise the EU gas directive, which will affect the pipeline under construction. Macron's confidant called it "symbolically a signal."
Italy
Disagreement with this state in France under Macron began a long time ago. The stumbling block was the different attitude of Paris and Rome on the issue of migration. Macron does not see a problem in refugees arriving in Italy from Africa, and considers "extremists" those who "play on fear." In response, the Italian president was called the “insolent” in the Italian government, inviting him to personally meet the migrants. The French president has entrusted himself with the crown of the main fighter with the right-wing forces of Europe:
I will not retreat before the nationalists and those who preach hatred. If they want to see me as their main enemy, they are right.
The Italians did not remain in debt and considered that the main enemy of Macron, judging by his record anti-ratings, is the French people. Mass protests against policy French President can serve in favor of that judgment. Matteo Salvini said he hoped the French people could make a different choice in the next presidential campaign. Prominent representatives of the Italian government, who had previously made harsh statements against Macron, met with leaders of the French protest movement and expressed public support for them. In response, Paris pointedly recalled its ambassador from Rome.
As we can observe, in a once friendly European family a real mess began. It is very significant that this process intensified after the beginning of the rapprochement of France with the United States.
Information