Germany, France hold unprecedented cabinet retreat to oil creaky EU motor

France and Germany’s governments kick off an unprecedented two-day retreat in Hamburg on Monday in a bid to re-set relations between the European Union’s two biggest powers amid a host of disagreements on energy, industry and defence policy.
The French-German motor that has driven EU policy for decades has proven rusty of late although it is more necessary than ever given the multitude of crises the bloc faces, say analysts and lawmakers.
Europe is grappling with surging irregular migration, the transition to a carbon neutral economy, the Ukraine war, a shift in the relationship with top trade partner China and now also conflict in the Middle East.
“The Franco-German relationship, and as a result Europe, is not living up to the challenges we are currently facing,” said Jacob Ross at the German Council on Foreign Relations.
One of the problems is that French President Emmanuel Macron sees himself as the natural successor to former Chancellor Angela Merkel as leader of Europe, and has adopted strong stances in Brussels, some contrary to German interests, he said.