Germany, France sign new accord
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macrony deepened their bilateral ties with the signing of a new friendship treaty
Merkel and Macron met in the German city of Aachen on the French border where both signed their names on the new treaty, a symbolic extension of the post-war reconciliation Élysee Treaty signed on this day in 1963
Both Germany and France hoped the treaty would deliver fresh impetus against rising sentiments of nationalism and populism that are seen as a threat to the integrity of the bloc.
European Commission, European Council and Romanian Presidents -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk and Klaus Iohannis respectively -- were all in attendance.
Romania currently holds the rotating Council of the EU presidency.
The treaty came ahead of the European parliamentary elections slated for May and included measures to strengthen ties in the ambits of security, economic cooperation, technology, foreign policy, education, culture and climate change.
The original Élysee Treaty -- signed by France and West Germany -- sought to end decades of enmity between the nations, who had fought against each other in both World War I and in World War II.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macrony deepened their bilateral ties with the signing of a new friendship treaty
Merkel and Macron met in the German city of Aachen on the French border where both signed their names on the new treaty, a symbolic extension of the post-war reconciliation Élysee Treaty signed on this day in 1963
Both Germany and France hoped the treaty would deliver fresh impetus against rising sentiments of nationalism and populism that are seen as a threat to the integrity of the bloc.
European Commission, European Council and Romanian Presidents -- Jean-Claude Juncker, Donald Tusk and Klaus Iohannis respectively -- were all in attendance.
Romania currently holds the rotating Council of the EU presidency.
The treaty came ahead of the European parliamentary elections slated for May and included measures to strengthen ties in the ambits of security, economic cooperation, technology, foreign policy, education, culture and climate change.
The original Élysee Treaty -- signed by France and West Germany -- sought to end decades of enmity between the nations, who had fought against each other in both World War I and in World War II.
