Simmering Feud Between France and Germany Erupts Into Verbal Warfare; France Tells Brussels to Shove It
The exchange got quite interesting when Merkel Allies Bashed Hollande Over Needed Reforms Leading members of Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic Union in Germany have fiercely criticised François Hollande, accusing the French president of “shaking the foundations of the European Unionâ€, only hours before the two leaders met in Paris in a bid to repair their troubled relations. Deep German concern about the French government’s resistance to economic reform and hostility to EU pressure emerged after Mr Hollande said it was not for the European Commission “to dictate†reforms to Paris.“There is no need for European recommendations; what’s needed is obvious. It’s not for the commission to dictate what we have to do,†Mr Hollande said in response to the commission, whose call was part of its annual assessment of budget plans for all 27 EU members
