Once again it was heard that the Franco -German machine “got forward”, but the internal situation in both countries is also questionable about whether and how quickly it can move. The Christian Democrat politician spoke of a “restart of the German -French engine”. Let’s put aside the observation of experienced diplomatic editors that we have heard this phrase very often in recent decades. It is perhaps more important to wonder why this engine is “extinguishing” every so often, but mainly if it really starts moving and even at satisfactory speeds.

The often impulsive Mertz is accustomed to talking about “reboot” either talking about the country’s economy, state reforms, Europeans’ cooperation in Ukrainian, or about the autumn campaign upgrading its government.

Estimates in the German press are not so optimistic. The atmosphere has been really better in the two countries’ relations, since Mertz succeeded Social Democrats Odf Saltz. The two of them with ambitions to appear as leading figures in Europe seem to have accepted a kind of sharing of this role, understanding that it is not time for public competition at a time when everyone is talking about the need for Europe to stand up to Putin and Trump. Support for Ukraine is given and re -formulated, although the ambiguities about who will do exactly what the famous security guarantees remain.

Gaspatsu, pesto and… good heart

But the tangible results were missing once again. The comment on the website of the public television network Ard: “Gaspatsos, pesto and sea bass: The Franco -German Council was rich in gastronomic pleasures, but rather meager in content. Both sides have emphasized the positive atmosphere, perhaps the most important result. “

There are objective difficulties for this. It is not just the ambiguity that is overwhelmed by the French National Assembly for the future of the Bayrou government, which makes everyone admit that there is no current decisions right now. And in Germany the government is going through a small crisis if you look at its heartbreaking efficiency at the polls. He has not been able to persuade that he can actually put the economy on an climb, but rather enhances insecurities with the constant invocation of the need to save resources and cuts. Macron is a president of the disintegration and Mertz a Chancellor who does not convince two -thirds of the Germans for his leadership skills.

No decisions about what they disagree with

But the problem is not just about faces. Both countries have their own financial problems, of different character and, above all, of different intensity, but the temptation for “national” solutions often prevents common initiatives. The famous “Spirit of the Toulon” where the cabinets met did not make progress on the issue of disagreement on each side shares in the next -generation fighter jets (FCAS) and the issue was again postponed for the end of the year.

Both countries have emphasized that Europe has been left behind in the field of digitization and agreed that better cooperation was needed. But something more specific is not going to emerge before November 18th when they announced that there would be a new meeting with exactly that.

There are traditional differences in the approach to individual energy that remains important to France. And here the wording remained consciously vague as the Tagesspiegel newspaper pointed out. “Mertz stressed at a press conference that the Berlin Coalition should still agree on whether the EU will be allowed to spend money on new nuclear reactors in the future.”

It was generally a meeting rich in “statements of authorities” and announcements of “road maps”, but without substantive announcements despite the common 26 -page text published. The coming weeks in Paris and Berlin will determine whether the Franco -German machine will start moving or if it will just remain lit but stagnant.