convinced that Germany was committed to seeing through its modernizing policies, and that the friendship between Germany and France remained the indispensable motor of European construction.

The fact that other people are worse off than us is certainly cold comfort for those in Germany who have to count every cent.

Germany must be a country which generates political ideas and leadership, which is capable of compromise, which is sovereign and yet knows that it needs its partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

Merkel knows EU integration had been driven by the decades-long relationship between Germany and France. But I think the view is shifting. I don't think that Merkel is prepared to wait for France to emerge from its political malaise.

Germany and France are united in their horror over the accident.

Whatever minor differences we have, this task can be taken on only by Germany and France together,