While France’s Yellow Vests continue in their 10th straight week of civil demonstrations, the country’s leadership forges ahead with the implementation of more federalized European structures.
In a hugely symbolic European summit this week, the leaders of Germany and France have made formal statements endorsing European Military Unification, informally referred to in the media as a ‘EU Army,’ which leaders believe can exist alongside NATO. Their statements are just the latest step forward towards the formalization of this new military institution.
France has also pledged to help advance Germany’s membership as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The location of this week’s meeting in historic Aachen evoked overtones of Holy Roman Empire symbolism. But the language placed on record at this summit contained even more fundamental considerations.
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In a statement made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, she intimated that, “… Germany and France, are obliged to support and help each other, including through military force, in case of an attack on our sovereignty.”
What constitutes a ‘attack on the sovereignty’ of Germany and France? Could this be construed as a threat from within, eg. the Yellow Vests? Could this also include any attack on what is perceived to be EU sovereignty?
For movements like the Yellow Vests (aka Gilets Jaune), more pontificating by Macron and Merkel may not be enough, and more clarification may be required.
RT International reports…
A new treaty signed by France and Germany on Tuesday reiterates their commitment to support each other, which they have done as NATO members. Angela Merkel also supported the creation of a joint European army.
“The fourth article of the treaty says we, Germany and France, are obliged to support and help each other, including through military force, in case of an attack on our sovereignty,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said as she and French President Emmanuel Macron were preparing to sign the new document.
SEE ALSO: COMPLETE TIMELINE FOR EU MILITARY UNIFICATION
The two leaders on Tuesday arrived in Aachen, a border town historically famous as the seat of power of Charlemagne, the 9th century western European ruler and founder of the Holy Roman Empire which stretched across a large part of European continent.
The date is symbolic too, coming exactly 56 years after their predecessors, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, signed the Elysee Treaty, which reconciled the two nations that had found themselves on the opposite sides in many wars.
Speaking to journalists, Merkel endorsed the idea advocated by Macron of creating a joint European army.
“We have taken major steps in the field of military cooperation, this is good and largely supported in this house. But I also have to say, seeing the developments of the recent years, that we have to work on a vision to establish a real European army one day.”
She added that the army would not be a counterpart to NATO, the US-led military alliance based on the same principle of mutual military defense. Rather it would complement it, she assured.
The new Aachen Treaty declares the intention of France and Germany to cooperate in various other areas, including foreign policy, economy, transport and humanitarian issues. The declarations however lack detail on how that will be done.
Among the particular steps outlined in it is the pledge to hold consultations before major European events and agree on joint statements – which France and Germany already do a lot. France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, also pledges it will try to help Germany attain the same status.
The military aspect of cooperation is especially in question. France over the past decade proved to be quite prepared to use force in foreign nations, including joining the UK in NATO’s destruction of Libya in 2011, and sending troops to Mali. Germany on its part is for historic reasons allergic to foreign deployments, which are only done with heavy parliamentary oversight. Reconciling the two positions may be a challenging act of balance…
Continue this story at RT International
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