from 10.12.2010 in Freiburg
(Note: the inscription of the foreign language section was based on the simultaneous translation)
Chancellor Merkel. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased that the Franco-German Council of Ministers with us today takes place in Germany, in Freiburg. I would also very thank the state of Baden-Württemberg and the City of Freiburg for the preparations being made here, and for the wonderful reception at Archbishop Zollitsch and for the visit of the Cathedral.
We have used the opportunity, on bilateral, European and global issues to speak. I want to emphasize that the character of the Franco-German relations to this day not only at the meeting of the Council of Ministers and at the close and friendly cooperation is evident, but also to two events that take place here today in the area. This is even the inauguration of the railway bridge in Kehl, a symbolic commitment to European and German-French cooperation, as well as the fact that today go the first combat units of the Franco-German Brigade to France. This will be conducting the defense minister to one another.
I would like to thank the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. He had the idea that German soldiers are now also accepted on French soil. For me it has a very, very strong symbolic.
We have just been standing before the image of Freiburg at the end of World War II. The fact that we are after what Germany has done by Nazism and World War II, now at the beginning of 21. century can say "German soldiers are welcome in France" is a great gesture. This also shows our cooperation.
We talked about how we perform in the view of the next week and the European Council and then be able to act in the further consequence of European integration. For this I will say this: First,
. We have in February, when it comes to solidarity with Greece was said that the Member States of the euro area will do everything, and decided and coordinated to ensure the financial stability in the euro area. This statement was in February. It applies today, and It will apply in the future. The need to know everyone who deals with the euro area.
The guide us, if we adopt the following week at the European Council a permanent crisis mechanism and the required contract modification. If we look back once a year, it would have seemed almost inconceivable that we show such a degree of solidarity in the form of a permanent future crisis mechanism. This shows our commitment to Europe.
Second. The point is that we can certainly have a variety of structural weaknesses, which we need to step by step. This is true for Europe as a whole, but the same is true in particular for the euro area. Germany and France are committed, although many countries are already making to overcome such structural problems and weaknesses are working to put these structural problems on the table and say how we can overcome the coordinates. It's not only about the fiscal policies, but about the structures of our economies as a whole.
At this point I would like to say explicitly that I was very pleased that the French president has repeatedly pointed out that between Germany and France, for example, the harmonized tax systems must be designed and that France has made exactly this task. We will do and vice versa. We should lead by example when it comes to competitiveness issues, which go far beyond mere budgetary policy. It has something to do with employment law and tax law. If the consistency is to increase the economic zone of the euro area, we have to take these things step by step to target and offer solutions.
I therefore believe that we had a very good, very intense counseling. We will talk at lunch, still have two things that are very important. Nicolas Sarkozy had asked some time ago the Stiglitz Commission, around the world with the issues of development and to also in Europe. This Commission has made proposals. We have asked our expert councils, on this basis for the growth strategies we need to make suggestions. This will be presented to us at lunch.
We also will lead talks with companies. We will of course continue to talk about the G8/G20-Präsidentschaft France. We want to support the French Presidency are very intense and very much agree with the agenda that the French President has set for the G20 presidency. This will once again be the subject over lunch.
P Sarkozy: Thank you, dear Angela. François Fillon and myself we would like to thank you for it to carry out the Franco-German Council of Ministers here in this beautiful city of Freiburg.
For France, the cooperation with Germany of enormous importance. For us it is an honor to the German soldiers in a peaceful setting on the ground to receive the French Republic. The Franco-German brigade is seen not only as a means of French soldiers in Germany. We are two countries in the peace and founding members of Europe. It is of course important that for all French people, a new Sign is that German soldiers are under the sign of peace to France. It is yet another sign of the depth of our relations and the will, the friendship between the German and the French people to establish a definitive answer.
I will not go through all that Mrs Merkel said. I'm totally with you agree.
We have also talked about Europe and the euro. It is quite clear that we are fully behind the euro. We will defend the euro as the euro is Europe. Europe is a part of the future of our countries. Europe is the part of our future that is not negotiable. We, therefore, German and French, are fully determined to do it that way.
I must say that the trust and friendship between us every time is even stronger and deeper. I am pleased to note the convergence of our analysis, which will make us possible to make structural suggestions on how the euro in Europe in the course of 2011 can still consolidate further.
In addition, we have decided together with François Fillon, that we want to bring our tax system to the German tax system. I thank the Chancellor for their openness. We can not even tell our partners that we (separately) in the euro area (stand), but of course we want a convergence in the euro zone seeking. German and French, of course, can not be a bad example. Therefore, these harmonics, between Germany and France, as it were only the prelude to the necessary economic convergence in the euro area and of course in the entire European Union.
to G20 presidency: It's not as if France Germany wants to associate to our presidency but we really want to work together hand in hand on our ambitious goals, especially on a new international monetary system - in which to Chancellor Merkel, fundamental role to play - to France in November in the first reform proposals propose to reform the international monetary system.
We therefore want to do this presidency, together with our German friends and also in a broader sense with our European friends, because Europe has ideas, has a model. Now these models and these ideas really start of the 21st Century on the international level to be defended. These new ideas are represented primarily by Germany and France. - Thank you!
Question: A question to both of you. Is your refusal on the creation of Euro-bonds and increasing the stability mechanism, a definitive decision? Or is the door for the future still open?
On Tuesday, the German Minister of Economic Affairs has stated that he can imagine a more communitisation terms of the debt in exchange for greater economic integration. What do you think of both?
Chancellor Merkel: First, I say to us in Germany, now that the issue of enlargement of the screen is not at all. We have brought Ireland to the exact purpose on this screen, for which we have set up this screen. That is less than 10 percent of the funds that screen has available. Therefore, the discussion is my firm opinion at all on the agenda.
As for Euro-bonds, so I made it clear that I do not think that helps the pooling of interest, even if you want to be the proposal only partially true, structurally. It's about what we both just said, that we come to a consistency of economic policies. In this respect I support Wolfgang Schäuble. But it's not that we come to a pooling of risks, but it is about competitiveness. It's about consistency, in a common currency area. This increase must and must not be lower, as we see in part.
We have already seen some bold steps. If we once look at what Greece is doing at the moment, this is to be treated with utmost respect. If you look at what Portugal and Spain have made in terms of fiscal policy, then that's just to see with great respect. We are from the control system down to the question of how to deal with debt and how our employment looks more and more with each other must make sure that no one can take a very different development than the other, but that we need consistency. There are examples. For example, it has been agreed across the European Union for VAT on certain corridors. Such agreements are made on other issues. will do have to work on. I think this is what Europe expected.
P Sarkozy: On the mechanism I can only say that we do what is necessary to defend the euro. There is really only to say that there is a great political will. If the debt will be raised almost to the European level, it means a loss of responsibility among European countries. If there is one day even more integration, a much more harmonized economic policy, then we can perhaps talk about it. But as things are today, the French position with the German position is identical.
Question: Chancellor, the chairman of euro group, Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker, has criticized Germany unusually sharp and your rejection of the idea of Euro-bonds. He said Germany thinking a bit simplistic. Did you make this statement clear?
Mr. President, share the fear of a strong German selfishness in this crisis?
Chancellor Merkel: I have repeatedly said during this crisis that the euro has a central and far beyond the monetary significance. I have stated before our national Parliament: The failure of the euro, Europe will fail. This is me deeply serious. This is why Germany will work with others to do everything to defend this €. That is what We talk, too.
This is the spirit that unites us all in the group of those who use the euro as currency. The Luxembourg prime minister is the chairman of euro group of finance ministers. In this respect he shares the same spirit as we do.
Otherwise, I'm on the subject, I think, all told. We have said everything. Since we want to solve the problems, I would not repeat what has just been explained to the subject.
P Sarkozy: I love to answer this question. If an alternative mechanism would be established for the countries of the European Union that are attacked, would be the first contributor to this Mechanism Germany. Larger second contributor is France. I guess you can not be regarded as selfish countries that are either first or second major contributor. In politics, there is a difference between what you do and what they say.
Germany is the largest contributor, and France is the second largest contributor. They have thus demonstrated their solidarity to the test. I do not think that Germany would have to receive any important lessons.
Second, the euro-bonds. I think we offend anyone if we say that we do not agree. We express our opinions here simply from. If you had previously told us that we had perhaps better understand. But we can not do without the only ones out to voice our opinion. The German and French citizens would not be happy if we simply without the required harmonization in the economic or accepted in the tax area. You have to think about it, of course, alone. We are really facing a serious crisis and also need to handle them accordingly Sun should submit
When Germany and France, proposals, we have only had one thing in mind, namely solidarity in Europe, the interest for the euro and the European Integration. If we had not introduced the proposals, there had been no alternative. Each course has the right to develop their own ideas. None is completely discarded. With regard to euro bonds it may be so, that one day when we have more economic integration, fiscal integration and financial integration, can talk about it. But at the present state of things should we not put the cart before the horse.
Question: Madam Chancellor, you spoke of structural weaknesses in the euro area and said that you want to put these issues together next week in Brussels on the table. Specifically: What do you expect as a commitment to this to address structural weaknesses?
A question about the weather in the Ile-de-France. Do you think the weather service Meteo France has done a good job or not?
Chancellor Merkel: The final question must not answer.
I would like to answer the first question. The French president has just said yes, this is a task for the year 2011. Next week the Council, we have two tasks. One is to make permanent the emergency mechanism to adopt, to make the necessary amendment to the contract and thus to send a signal that we are defending the euro and we do not on the 2013 limit, but that one is permanent and reliable basis. This is a significant addition to what we have said and done. We have seen through this economic crisis, in which difficulties may be. Therefore, I think this is a very important result.
will then be seen in terms of economic governance, where the imbalances are. We have started already. But it does not say much more massive and very much to be done. Then you have to consider how to overcome such differences in the competition. We have already the example of extra taxation between Germany and France called. Over here We will of course have to talk with others. In any case, this is not the job of the next Friday, but that's a task which must be addressed decisively in the future in order to clarify the coherence of economic policy, thereby making it clear that not only monetary, but also the cooperation is to be deepened.
P Sarkozy: Exactly. Next week we need to agree on the formulation of contracts. This is of course very important to really ensure the perpetuation of the mechanism that we have during the year 2010 brought into being. We have made the joint statement that there is a structural crisis and is thus also structural responses are required. Now we also structural responses are put together in the service of Europe. This is the work of the first weeks of next year.
domestic French to your question: I am aware that many French people had great difficulties. The Chancellor also said that many German also had problems due to the weather of recent days. For the Prime Minister and the Government, I would really appreciate the work of all national and regional officials who have done everything in their power to prevent the worst. You could of course not all the difficulties . Prevent Of course I know that many drivers or train passengers had difficulties that were stranded for hours. We will try in the next few days to fathom why, if there are certain special meteorological conditions, our services work well, but always with an interval of two or three days. I put their skills do not dispute. When we think of the supply problems of our stations, so all that will run at the end really well. But it is right that we provide in the first two or three days, not the full power that is expected of us. We need to work on our processes. I also see the progress we achieve more have. Exactly what we will do from the beginning of next week.
question CHERRY: There was the famous agreement last month during a walk in Deauville. Were there any agreements now in Freiburg for a walk?
Mr. President, will you support the candidacy of Mr. Weber for the next ECB presidency?
Chancellor Merkel: It's always good to have to support things that do not exist.
As Deauville, so were the, I think, very important agreements. I can not imagine that we are on the Council next week over a contract amendment and would speak to a permanent crisis mechanism if it were not for Deauville. In this respect, that was important. I would say: Whenever we meet, we do something important for the future.
P Sarkozy: Of course I understand the romantic aspect of the walk in Deauville. But you should really see the contents of our walk in Deauville. The Chancellor and I are working together better and understand better where the other is for the red line. Thus, we can harmonize our efforts better.
The next Secretary General of the European Council is also exactly why be a German. France has got to the candidacy of a truly outstanding man whom I admire and with whom I am friends well, namely to support Mr Corsepius, of forces.
We Governing issues have not even mentioned, because today it does not arise. But we will talk about it in due time.
call: (inaudible, microphone not included)
Chancellor Merkel: Of course was worth the effort. For the French President's arrival was otherwise shorter than in Berlin. We have chosen the city of Freiburg, because we always go back to cities lead us are a reminder that European history is a long history. If we here in Freiburg in the cathedral stands and thinks of cathedrals in Strasbourg or Paris, it turns out that there was many, many centuries before us a large community of generations. This can be seen in Freiburg in a special way. I found it amazing how many people were on the road today and have welcomed us.
Source: http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Mitschrift / Pressekonferenzen/2010/12/2010-12-10-pressestatement-merkel-sarkozy.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment