Two firsts among many equals

Martin Winter stresses the significance of German-French relations for the French EU Council Presidency. "Sarkozy does not face an easy task. But just as France put its weight behind Germany's efforts as EU Council President, Berlin will now support Paris. For all the disagreement between the two countries, neither can afford to see a weak EU. Neither can they wait for others to spur on the Union. Among the larger countries, London plays the role of an outsider, while Madrid and Rome are weakened by domestic political problems. And Poland is not ready by a long shot. ... France and Germany bear special leadership responsibility for the EU. Not only because they initiated the unification process and are economically powerful, but also because such a large community needs a powerful flywheel."

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