# Macron, Scholz plaster over differences with smiles and a handshake Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-27 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Macron and Scholz Meet in Paris Amid Faltering Relationship Meta Description: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed European energy supplies, rising prices and joint defence projects in a show of URL: https://financedigest.com/macron-scholz-plaster-over-differences-with-smiles-and-a-handshakehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-10-26t133324z1lynxmpei9p0j0rtroptp4france-germany-1736814964065-compressed.jpg) By Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Paris with smiles and a handshake on Wednesday, but ignored questions on their faltering relationship as they headed into the Elysee Palace. Scholz flew into the French capital for a hastily scheduled working lunch to find common ground after the French leader postponed a joint Cabinet meeting last week over what sources said were differences, including over energy policy and defence. After the talks, Scholz said the two leaders had a “very good and important conversation” that covered European energy supplies, [rising prices](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-rise-on-u-s-drawdown-chinese-fears-weigh.html "Oil prices rise on U.S. drawdown, Chinese fears weigh") and joint defence projects. Germany and France stand close together and are [tackling challenges](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-financial-firms-tackle-the-challenges-that-lie-ahead-in-2021.html "How can financial firms tackle the challenges that lie ahead in 2021?") together,” he said in a tweet. The Elysee Palace [issued a statement saying the two had “renewed their commitment to solidarity principles between the two countries and at the European level,” and had discussed](https://www.financedigest.com/necessary-lessons-in-debt-six-out-of-ten-brits-wouldnt-feel-comfortable-discussing-any-money-issues-with-their-children.html "Necessary lessons in debt? Six out of ten Brits wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing any money issues with their children") “ways to move forward on a joint sovereignty agenda. Unusually, there was no news conference after the talks. Moments before Scholz’s arrival, French government spokesman Olivier Veran had downplayed any rifts, [saying the Franco-German pair of leaders had always been able to overcome difficulties that arose from time](https://www.financedigest.com/rising-oil-prices-buy-iran-time-in-nuclear-talks-officials-say.html "Rising oil prices buy Iran time in nuclear talks, officials say") to time. Today’s meeting reflects that this friendship [remains alive,”](https://www.financedigest.com/why-uk-buy-to-let-remains-very-much-alive.html "Why UK Buy-to-Let remains very much alive") Veran said. Since he took power in 2017, Macron has instructed French officials to never criticise Germany publicly, French government sources have told Reuters, and to solve disagreements [behind closed doors](https://www.financedigest.com/banking-stability-worries-go-behind-closed-doors-at-imf-world-bank-meetings.html "Banking stability worries go behind closed doors at IMF-World Bank meetings"). But the number of issues on which France and Germany – the EU’s two richest and most influential members – are at odds is growing, from the bloc’s defence strategy to its response to the [energy crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/europes-energy-crisis-and-the-nuclear-path-out.html "Europe’s energy crisis and the nuclear path out"), relations with China and even fiscal policy. That pushed [French officials to think of a way to be more “assertive” with Berlin, they said, which culminated last week with the unprecedented cancellation of the ritual Franco-German Cabinet meeting, underlining the French president’s](https://www.financedigest.com/french-president-macron-reaffirms-that-pensions-system-reform-is-necessary.html "French President Macron reaffirms that pensions system reform is necessary") frustration. Berlin blamed logistical difficulties and played down the rift. After the lunch, [German officials said the three hours](https://www.financedigest.com/low-use-of-shortened-work-hours-points-to-mild-german-recession-ifo.html "Low use of shortened work hours points to mild German recession – Ifo") and 20 minutes spent together by the two leaders were a “very constructive and forward-looking conversation” and that the pair got along better than media reports would suggest. It was not clear, however, whether any progress had been made on issues on which the two countries are at loggerheads, including whether to cap gas prices in [response to Russia’s war in Ukraine or German subsidies to its industry](https://www.financedigest.com/corporate-social-responsibility-within-the-festival-industry.html "Corporate Social Responsibility Within The Festival Industry") and households. The rift is also impacting Europe’s plans to build its next generation of fighter jets, gas pipeline [projects across the EU and German plans to let China invest](https://www.financedigest.com/sse-to-invest-122-million-in-scottish-pumped-hydro-project.html "SSE to invest 2 million in Scottish pumped hydro project") in its ports. (Reporting by Michel Rose in Paris; Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon in Paris and Matthias Williams and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Richard Lough Philippa Fletcher and Matthew Lewis) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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