France and Germany

For so long France and Germany stood shoulder to shoulder on the EU journey.  Not now.  Merkel gave her support to Sarkozy who promptly lost the French presidential election to Hollande.  Already there have been major disagreements between Germany and France with France insipid in its support for austerity demanded by Berlin to deal with sovereign debt crises.

Now the German economy, the engine of the EU economy, is slowing.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/only-crisis-can-show-true-colors-of-french-president-hollande-a-873905.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/berlin-plan-hints-future-austerity-measures-for-germany-a-874377.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/imf-head-lagarde-warns-germany-over-possible-austerity-plan-a-874782.html