Political crises in France and Germany spell more trouble for Europe's ailing economy - analysis - video Dailymotion

Government collapses in Berlin and now Paris will hamper efforts to address Europe’s burgeoning deficits and spluttering competitiveness.

Transcript

00:00The collapse of the French government by a vote of no confidence and snap parliamentary

00:11elections in February in Germany, entangled in domestic political crises, Paris and Berlin

00:18could now lose influence on the European stage.

00:22Could the breakdown of the Franco-German engine in turn weaken the European Union?

00:52Political instability on both sides of the Rhine comes at a critical time.

01:10As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, he threatens to raise tariffs

01:14and leaves doubt about his support for Ukraine.

01:20The new Commission, which has just taken office, must also take urgent decisions on

01:24competitiveness and defence.

01:50In the face of the declining Franco-German leadership, other countries such as Donald

01:59Tusk's Poland or the UK, although it has left the EU, could step up, especially on

02:04defence and security issues.

02:07However, the cars are far from being redistributed.

02:11Germany and France together account for almost half of the EU's GDP, nearly one third of

02:17its population and about one third of its budget.