My nightmare is to follow the path of France and Germany in socioeconomic policy.

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,

They have it wrong in asking if Schroeder favors Britain over France, or France over Britain. Schroeder favors Germany. That is what we all have to understand.

Countries like France and Germany just aren't ready for any further expansion of the EU from an economic point of view. The negotiations with Turkey basically have to be forgotten about for the next five or six years.