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Bloomberg
Germany and France will deepen their 55-year-old alliance as the main defenders of European Union cooperation seek to counter forces tearing at the bloc’s bonds.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron will sign a treaty in the German border town of Aachen on January 22.
The pact, which was signed off by Merkel’s cabinet, calls for joint efforts on security, economic and environmental policy and extends the landmark Elysee agreement between the former adversaries from 1963.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the Aachen Treaty is meant to send a clear message at a time when populists are campaigning for what he called “national egotism.â€
As Germany and France renew their vows ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU, the risks to the bloc’s solidarity remain acute.
These were underscored by efforts to forge a Euroskeptic alliance ahead of European Parliament elections in May.