While the time is ticking down for her Summit in Brussels, which will start on Thursday with the central topics of discussion economic development and supply of UkraineGermany and France are approaching negotiations with strong disagreements over the issue of combustion vehicles and nuclear power.

The upcoming summit at the end of the week and the content of the discussions will highlight the scale of the differences between the two sides, as well as the prospects for overcoming differences, according to Politico.

Clément Beaune, the Minister of Transport of France, wrote in Politico that, “although he supports the age-old ‘Franco-German compromise’, when a disagreement arises, it should not be hidden, but efforts should be made to overcome it.”

The recent refusal of Germany to support the EU initiative comes to mind. impose a ban on the sale of cars and trucks that pollute the environment from 2035. Berlin, overseeing its strong domestic auto industry, has called for an e-fuel exemption from an EU-led ban, despite the proposal being rejected twice by the European Parliament last year.

In the shadow of these events France criticized her attitude Germanyexpressing, on the other hand, its own “desire” to extend to the EU the French policy of energy production mainly through nuclear reactors.

The French request sparked “anger” in Berlin as Olaf Solz’s government, which also includes the Green Party, put a “red line” on the discussion of the specific issue. OUR France sought, in fact, to include in the text of the conclusion of the Synod “underlined reference to the nuclear power issue“, with Berlin expressing complete denial. Despite the fact that in the text published on Monday night, in the end, this reference is not, Paris will continue to move in this direction.

Germany is showing similar political “persistence” – this time on European legislation on car engines – as Berlin continues intensive negotiations aimed at an agreement that will include the approval of so-called “e-fuel” (e-fuel).

Germany’s stance provoked much reflection and reaction in the European Parliament and Brussels, while Berlin was criticized for having “crossed the line” and that Germany’s “trust in leadership” in the Union was under threat.

Events at the summit in the coming days and the course of discussions will highlight the extent of the gap between France and Germany, as well as whether and to what extent it is possible to overcome differences and compromise.

Source: Politico