Thread: PARIS'S PROVOCATION - for European leadership

Sarkozy Wrestles with Merkel for European Dominance

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is challenging German Chancellor Angela Merkel for leadership of Europe. But she's hoping to slow down France's hyperactive new leader to ensure German influence on the Continent -- while avoiding an open confrontation between Paris and Berlin.
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The two leaders have known each other for years, but in Toulouse they meet at the bargaining table for the first time. The summit will set the tone for their working relationship -- and the Franco-German partnership -- well into the future. Both are aware that the European Union can't function if Paris and Berlin are at odds.
But at the moment the relationship is deeply strained. The new administration in Paris is doing its utmost to provoke Berlin. France discussed the decision to put forward former French finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn as the EU's candidate to head the International Monetary Fund in Washington D.C. with all of its important partners except Germany. Outraged German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also been waiting days for a call from his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner, who recently suggested replacing long-established EU policies for the Middle East with his own initiative for the region.
Paris's Provocation: Sarkozy Wrestles with Merkel for European Dominance - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Nonsense, everybody knows that the dominant force in Europe is Wales

i thought this was going to be about Paris Hilton.

i'll get my coat

Exactly what Europe and the world needs, a power struggle between power-hungry Krauts and Baguettes.

Is Kouchner suggesting a more pro-Israel stance from EU?

The Anglo Saxon's market economy system has sway in the EU. France's muddled social/ecomomic system is doomed to failure.

^ It seems France need to make some serious changes in their domestic end. I'm interested in this topic, but know little, so I need to read up and find stuff on the current situation.

In comparison, England's arm's-length stance vis-a-vis Europe looks prescient, imho. Better economy, fewer social problems (generally speaking).

France's economy and society are in the doldrums right now, and Germany has a far larger economy. Europe's power-play as an emerging international force (remember Belgium's idea for an armed EU force?) is fizzling for the same age-old reasons.

Yeah and it's always when things are bad between France and Germany

The Brits have become the whore of the US system, Germans and French would like a different system. Germans have been more progressive than the French in terms of social progress etc... with better implementation. The French are just following the Germans in that regard (35 hours week etc...) but without the better implementation of those rules.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

The Brits have become the whore of the US system.

Don't agree with that. The results of the Anglo-Saxon model are inevitable when you have a pro-business government, minimal regulation that restricts business and a vigourous consumer society. Singapore is much the same.

^ wrong

Singapore has a lot of regulations for businesses, it's not really the same as the UK or the US.

The business environment in the UK and the US is very much relaxed where anyone can do pretty much what they want as long as they pay taxes.

Singapore is much more controlled, requiring all kind of licenses for different type of businesses. Not as open as you would expect, but not closed eitheir.

Singapore is closer to a "directive" economic system than the US and the UK combined.

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

The results of the Anglo-Saxon model are inevitable when you have a pro-business government

This model is suicidal and have the same ill-conceived "assumptions" as communism. It just fails at the end and it leads to Facism (US is there already, UK might soon with Gordon Brown)

The EURO "model" (French/German/Belgium) will eventually replace the US/UK model. We just have to wait.

Originally Posted by Milkman

Airbus seems to be very bureautcratically run. Airbus got a lot of fanfair with the A380. Boeing is less constricted by international bureaucracy, and has thumped Airbus with the Dreamliner. Boeing (and other companies) can adapt quickly. It seems that the EU cannot adapt and change as quickly.

It also helps that the US government finances Boeing, otherwise they wouldn't exist anymore as they are a loss making company who can't compete with Airbus on a level playing field. Airbus looks like it will bounce back, especially as there is a big effort to remove a lot of the beauacracy there.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

The EURO "model" (French/German/Belgium) will eventually replace the US/UK model. We just have to wait.

But the French and German models are not the same. The German model may make headway, but I don't think Britain has enough arrogance to pull it off.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

It also helps that the US government finances Boeing,

I thought it was Airbus which is heavily subsidiced, not Boeing? I could be wrong on this.

Anyway, there is an age old rivalry between France and Germany, seems this is resurfacing now. The EU is a big bag full of problems with a stifling bureaucracy.

Both are in reality subsidised. Airbus through EU loans and Boeing through government military contracts.

^ correct, these kind of industries are so expensive to maintain that subsidies , stop short of nationalization, are the only way to keep them afloat. Strategic industries.

Originally Posted by stroller

Anyway, there is an age old rivalry between France and Germany, seems this is resurfacing now. The EU is a big bag full of problems with a stifling bureaucracy.

very true, but I think France and Germany are usually sync for most European issues. This latest episode is just because Sarko personality is combative and confrontational. And he is from fucking Poland, so definitely not a French personality trait