STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Wednesday, 23 January 2013

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14. The World From Berlin: 'Merkel and Hollande Seem to Get Along After All'

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-press-review-on-50th-anniversary-of-german-french-elysee-treaty-a-879199.html


At a grand ceremony in Berlin on Tuesday, Germany and France celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty that sealed the alliance between the two former enemies after two world wars.

The continuing festivities in Berlin are focusing on the historic rapprochement between the two nations, and on their achievements -- the European single market, the European Union itself and the euro would have been unthinkable without the Franco-German alliance, still seen as the engine driving European integration.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande stressed their common values and hailed the importance of the partnership for Europe. They said they would bridge differences on the shape of Europe's currency union and present joint proposals for deeper economic and fiscal integration before a summit of EU leaders scheduled for June.

German media commentators said the relationship remains crucial for the Continent and noted that Merkel, a conservative, and her leftist Socialist Party counterpart Hollande, appear to be getting along better now after an uneasy start last May, when newly elected Hollande vowed to reverse German-backed austerity policies.