Macron, Scholz meet amid speculation of distant ties

French President Emmanuel Macron was in the German port city of Hamburg on Monday for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as speculation continues about the state of relations between the two biggest economic forces of the European Union and their leaders.

Post-World War II economic alliances between France and Germany were the foundation of what has become the EU. But since Scholz replaced former chancellor Angela Merkel in December 2021, relations have been less cordial, with divisions emerging over issues including the response to the energy crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

It is believed that there is much less personal chemistry between the two leaders than there was between Macron and Merkel, and the Financial Times quoted an unnamed EU diplomat as saying that all discussions between the two sides were being "poisoned" by France's desire for its vital nuclear power industry to receive subsidies.

At home, Scholz is leader of a three-way coalition government, which is struggling for popularity. It is also seen to lessen his personal authority, which some observers have said has encouraged Macron to see himself as Merkel's heir as Europe's preeminent leader.

Reuters went as far as to observe that "the French-German motor that has driven EU policy for decades has proved rusty of late although it is more necessary than ever given the multitude of crises the bloc faces".

These include the continuing challenge of migration, the road toward net-zero emissions, the continuing impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and new issues that may emerge from the latest conflict in the Middle East.

One tough issue is the EU's electricity reform. There is disagreement due to the fact that France is one of the most nuclear-powered countries in Europe, whereas Germany decided to phase out nuclear energy in 2011.

Germany and some other EU members are pushing for stricter rules on state-backed support of power prices. Berlin fears Paris will offer state-backed fixed-price contracts for nuclear power to its national energy champion EDF and spend the revenue from this to support French industries.

"The Franco-German relationship, and as a result Europe, is not living up to the challenges we are currently facing," Jacob Ross, a research fellow at the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for the Future of Europe, said.

Detlef Seif, a Christian Democratic Union lawmaker on EU affairs, told Reuters: "I have the impression the governments do not speak with one another about important topics and then when they do, only through the media and sometimes through indiscretions."