German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French Prime Minister Elisabeth Born today recorded a thaw in Franco-German relations after weeks of disagreements over an energy deal.

“The harder times get, the more important the cooperation between Germany and France becomes,” Scholz said at a joint press conference with Born.

The French Prime Minister spoke of “the unity we must maintain” in the face of the many challenges facing the Franco-German axis.

The warm-up also led to the signing of an “energy solidarity agreement”. This agreement provides that France will help Germany through the supply of natural gas. Germany, for its part, will support the neighboring country by providing it with electricity.

“Friends support each other in evil,” Soltz said, while Bourne spoke of “an important text that will have concrete consequences and protect the citizens of both countries.”

Since mid-October, France has been supplying natural gas to Germany, which, in turn, may increase its electricity generation capacity in November (instead of January), which will allow it to send more electricity to Paris. As many nuclear power plants failed, France had to import electricity for the first time in 42 years. For Germany, this is also a historical turn, since the country used to buy natural gas from Russia.

Soltz also announced that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the Economics Minister’s proposal to reduce the price of natural gas and electricity for households and businesses. The German government hopes that the bill, which will limit gas and electricity prices, will be approved by both houses of parliament in early December.

“We need to go further and limit the rise in gas prices and introduce structural reforms in the electricity market so that consumers pay at prices corresponding to the cost of production,” Born commented, adding: “The correct answer to this question will be European, and I am convinced that We will agree on this matter.”

As for the war in Ukraine, the two countries sought to appear united, with the French prime minister saying that Berlin and Paris would support Kyiv “to the end.”

Source: APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters.