Comments on: Of Demons and Details. http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/of-demons-and-details/ European Opinion Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:00:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Claus Vistesen http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/of-demons-and-details/#comment-11436 Claus Vistesen Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:04:42 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2008#comment-11436 "Moreover, if not even the time-tested Franco-German alliance has enough energy these days to jump start even regional multilateralism, what does mean for the two countries, for Europe, and the EU, as a whole?" I think this is an important point and the squaffle over this regional cooperation is well mirrored in Europe's problems these days. The old members of the union are turning inwards and old habits of protectionism are once again on the agenda. Particularly France is showing signs of old virtues of industrial dirigism mixed with FDI bashing. I think it is true to hope for some down-top regionalism to improove the Franco-German relationship but the relationship with what comes into Europe is equally as important. “Moreover, if not even the time-tested Franco-German alliance has enough energy these days to jump start even regional multilateralism, what does mean for the two countries, for Europe, and the EU, as a whole?”

I think this is an important point and the squaffle over this regional cooperation is well mirrored in Europe’s problems these days.

The old members of the union are turning inwards and old habits of protectionism are once again on the agenda. Particularly France is showing signs of old virtues of industrial dirigism mixed with FDI bashing.

I think it is true to hope for some down-top regionalism to improove the Franco-German relationship but the relationship with what comes into Europe is equally as important.

]]> By: Pi. http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/of-demons-and-details/#comment-11435 Pi. Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:38:16 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2008#comment-11435 Could the lack of enthusiasm perhaps have something to do with the fact that Kehl (in Germany) is a very small town with nothing to offer and Strasburg (in France) is a major city with, well, everything? Pi. Could the lack of enthusiasm perhaps have something to do with the fact that Kehl (in Germany) is a very small town with nothing to offer and Strasburg (in France) is a major city with, well, everything?

Pi.

]]> By: jean-michel http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/political-issues/of-demons-and-details/#comment-11434 jean-michel Tue, 18 Oct 2005 02:10:07 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=2008#comment-11434 The role played by the ENA in France, in French politics is a general and somehow overwhelming problem. So, of course, it represents another obstacle for the French-German relationship. But my long-term fear is larger than the French ENA-matter. My fear is that the sympathy-window between the two countries could close itself, if nothing is done to let the French and German peoples come closer to each other. Pacifically, I mean :)) And you are right, there is not much to await from the French politics, where there are always much more urgent matters, like deciding who will run for the next Presidential election. And a Presidential election in France, it is like "carnaval" in Germany. "After the election" is "before the election" On the contrary, because Germany is a federation of Länder, cooperation might be easier to foster on a regional level. So maybe a political solution would be to develop interregional cooperation ? But on the whole, I rather hope that NGO and local or individual projects will continue to tighten the links between French and German peoples. And that these projects will be numerous and successfull enough to compensate the growing lack of knowledge of the neighbours in each people. And to finish with an optimistic note: the 10th German Film Festival of Paris has been very interesting and quite successfull, with many projections sold out. http://www.festivalcineallemand.com/ Jean-Michel The role played by the ENA in France, in French politics is a general and somehow overwhelming problem.
So, of course, it represents another obstacle for the French-German relationship.

But my long-term fear is larger than the French ENA-matter.

My fear is that the sympathy-window between the two countries could close itself, if nothing is done to let the French and German peoples come closer to each other. Pacifically, I mean :))

And you are right, there is not much to await from the French politics, where there are always much more urgent matters, like deciding who will run for the next Presidential election.
And a Presidential election in France, it is like “carnaval” in Germany. “After the election” is “before the election”

On the contrary, because Germany is a federation of Länder, cooperation might be easier to foster on a regional level. So maybe a political solution would be to develop interregional cooperation ?

But on the whole, I rather hope that NGO and local or individual projects will continue to tighten the links between French and German peoples.

And that these projects will be numerous and successfull enough to compensate the growing lack of knowledge of the neighbours in each people.

And to finish with an optimistic note: the 10th German Film Festival of Paris has been very interesting and quite successfull, with many projections sold out.
http://www.festivalcineallemand.com/

Jean-Michel

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