Advertisement

Merkel: No EU money for French military action

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Merkel: No EU money for French military action
Photo: DPA

Ties between Germany and France became a little looser on Friday as Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out against the European Union giving money to fund France's military action in France.

Advertisement

P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; } "We cannot finance any military action where we are not involved in the decision-making process," Merkel told other leaders at the EU-summit in Brussels.

She did admit that there were "good reasons for why taking action in Central Africa was necessary," Spiegel Online news site reported.

The comments came as EU leaders discussed the common defence and security policy, over which the 28 states are deeply divided.

France wanted a European war fund to be created to help finance its military operations in Central Africa. Germany, along with other states, are against the plans.

It said it saw "no fundamental need for revision" of the agreements already in place when it came to funding military action, according to government sources.

The issue has flared up between European leaders because of France's decision earlier this month to deploy troops to the Central African Republic in a bid to prevent the bloodshed which has continued as a result of fighting between Christian militants and Islamist fighters.

It is France's second major intervention in Africa within a year, the first taking place in Mali, where French President Francois Hollande sent thousands of troops in January.

Hollande said he had received "lots of support from the European governments", but added: "So now the financial contributions must follow this support."

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also