EU news: Block faces pushback from Sweden and the Netherlands despite Olaf Scholz’s bid with Fr | The world | News
Scholz took over after EU heavyweight Merkel in early December, vowing to replace the leader who had held the record for 16 years in power. Scholz leads the center-left Social Democrats in a coalition with the Green and Free Democrats.
He has already made an effort to strengthen relations with Macron, with his trip to Paris in the second week of December the first extraterrestrial visit he made after taking office.
Professor Iain Begg at the London School of Economics and Political Science said Scholz’s goal with the bloc would be to “achieve the long-term European ambition”, but that there could be some friction from other member states if France and Germany try to lead the bloc unilaterally.
He told Express.co.uk that there would be a “recovery of this from countries like the Netherlands or Sweden.”
He said that these nations “have sometimes been concerned about initiatives from Paris and Berlin”.
He said: “It is a union of 27, not a union of two.
“So they will not always accept what they want.”
However, Professor Begg made the reservation that “the weight of their power, and the fact that Italy is now quite close to what Macron wants, I think creates a new momentum that was not there maybe two years ago.”
Professor Begg predicted that the newly appointed Scholz will prioritize the EU’s goals and closer ties with Emmanuel Macron.
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Just days after Scholz was sworn in as Germany’s Chancellor, he traveled to Paris to meet Macron for the first time as two leaders of powerful EU states.
Macron praised a “convergence of opinions” with Scholz, and even called the new Chancellor “dear Olaf” in what appeared to be the beginning of a close relationship between the two nations.
Macron praised “a desire to make our countries work together, and a firm and determined belief in Europe, which I already knew, which we will need in the coming months and years”.
Speaking to Scholz at a press conference, Macron said: “For the past four years, I have been working with Angela Merkel on all these topics.
“I know we will continue together, dear Olaf, this close cooperation.”
Scholz told the media that Germany, like France, was committed to Europe’s “strategic sovereignty” and cooperation on issues facing the bloc.
Mr Macron had previously stated France’s ambition for a “Europe that is powerful in the world”, and worked on the bloc’s influence during France’s term as President of the Council next year.
Commitment to the EU is something that the new ruling government, called the “traffic light coalition” for the colors of the participating parties, has been clear to emphasize as they move on from Merkel’s reign.