Franco-German engine splutters over Greece

Polar Opposites

Not all analysts have such a bleak view, arguing that France and Germany combine well in many areas, pointing to cooperation on new regulations for the financial markets and joint efforts on difficult diplomatic dossiers like Iran and Afghanistan.

“They work together well on foreign policy ... and France is getting closer to the Germans over the environment, which is very important,” said Brigitte Lestrade, a professor at the Cergy-Pontoise university and an expert on franco-German ties.

“It is true the motor is turning slowly, but perhaps this is because Sarkozy and Merkel are simply too different,” she added.

Although they both belong to the centre-right, Sarkozy and Merkel clearly lack the personal chemistry that flowed between some of their predecessors, with the hyperactive French leader a polar opposite of the more reserved German.

Noticeably though, the outspoken Sarkozy has offered up no public criticism of Berlin during the Greek crisis, with French ministers saying in private they understood Merkel's caution, given the fierce public German opposition to any bailout.

But IFRI's Moisi argues that you need more than compatible personalities to re-ignite the dynamism of the early years of EU integration, as the various capitals look increasingly inwards.

“What is happening goes much, much beyond the fact that Sarkozy and Merkel could not be more different,” he said.

“I don't see where the good news is going to come from now in Europe. The feeling of being a European is disappearing.”

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