Germany and France jointly held a ceremony in Berlin on Jan. 22 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship or the Elysee Treaty, which laid the foundation for the two countries’ historic reconciliation. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande attended a joint session of the two countries’ parliaments. The treaty, which changed the relationship between the two countries from one of hostility and confrontation to one of mutual trust and cooperation, suggests a lesson for Japan, which faces history-related issues with its neighbors, especially China and the two Koreas.
The treaty was signed on Jan. 22, 1963, by French President Charles de Gaulle and German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The 19-article treaty does not specifically mention peace or friendship. But it contains the mechanism that eventually led to reconciliation and cooperation between the two countries. It has thus helped them serve as the driving force for European integration, which has taken the form of the European Union.
The treaty spells out twice-a-year regular summits between the top leaders of the two countries and regular meetings between their foreign ministries every three months.
It also aims to expand youth exchanges and exchanges in the fields of education and culture. It thus has helped greatly widen the communication channels and mutual understanding between France and Germany.
When the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, the Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the reconciliation between the two countries and their contribution to the creation of the EU. In its press release, the committee said, “The dreadful suffering in World War II demonstrated the need for a new Europe. Over a 70-year period, Germany and France had fought three wars. Today, war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners.”
A strong mark of the reconciliation between Germany and France is the publication in 2006 of a common history textbook for high school students written in both German and French. This helps youths of both countries squarely look at history, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between them.
Since the signing of the treaty, some 8 million German and French youths have taken part in exchange programs.
Despite the overall reconciliation, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Hollande are not necessarily on good terms. Germany, which has played a leading role in the efforts to solve the sovereign debt crisis of Europe, stresses the importance of financial discipline and calls for austerity measures.
Mr. Hollande is pursuing a growth policy. France is suffering from economic stagnation and a high unemployment rate. The balance between the two countries has been lost because Germany has become economically stronger.
It is hoped that the two countries will overcome economic, political and cultural differences to cooperate further in stabilizing the European situation.
Japan, for its part, should consider what concrete steps it should take to push reconciliation with its neighbors by taking cues from the experience of France and Germany.