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GERMANY AND FRANCE sought to paper-over tensions from the euro crisis which has propelled Berlin into Europe’s driving seat when their leaders kicked off events marking 50 years of post-war reconciliation.
French President Francois Hollande teamed up with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in snow-bedecked Berlin to launch a packed, pomp-filled agenda to fete the Elysee Treaty, which in 1963 opened a new chapter in Franco-German ties.
Ahead of a working dinner where the two leaders were likely to discuss world hotspots such as the crisis in Mali, they faced an around 90-minute, at times light-hearted grilling on a range of European issues by about 200 French and German youths in a live televised debate.
Mali
As well as on tackling the three-year debt crisis, Paris and Berlin have limited cooperation on military matters, as Mali and Germany’s non-intervention in Libya in 2011 showed, but Merkel sought to play down their differences.
“Step by step we will always weigh up, can we do that, or can’t we… One thing is also right, we must of course not leave ourselves high and dry. We are partners,” she said.
While French troops are fighting alongside Malian forces against Islamist militants in the west African state, Germany has pledged two military transport planes and €1 million ($1.3 million) in humanitarian aid.
“We are not so experienced in Africa” compared to former colonial power, France, Merkel said, stressing the country still had forces in Afghanistan and often needed a parliamentary mandate for military deployments.
For his part, Hollande welcomed Germany’s “immediate” support on Mali.
European unity
In signing the landmark treaty on January 22, 1963, then French president Charles de Gaulle and West German chancellor Konrad Adenauer paved the way for the cooperation which has since driven European unity.
Merkel acknowledged differences with France in her weekly podcast Saturday but said she felt “a very great closeness” with Germany’s neighbour, adding: “And when we have come together, then mostly a good new solution has come out of it.”
After Merkel spearheaded much of Europe’s response to the three-year-long debt crisis with Hollande’s conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, earning them the nickname ‘Merkozy’, her rapport with the Socialist Hollande has been noticeably cooler.
The pair have differed on the best approach for stemming the eurozone turbulence – with Hollande pushing for fresh spending to bolster growth, while Merkel’s pro-austerity mantra made her a detested figure in struggling EU member states but has gone down well among German voters.
Even if the two have pulled off compromises, Germany, which has fared far better in the crisis than many of its partners, has expressed hopes the French economy will return to robust growth.
Hollande recognised that his country had a “problem of competitiveness”, saying Germany – Europe’s effective paymaster – had “made efforts” while France “has lost time”.
Unemployment
Youth training and unemployment was a subject clearly on the minds of many of the young people attending the debate.
And Merkel and Hollande called for the creation of an exchange system for different branches of professional training, as already exists between European universities, to help all young people.
“I support us having European training programmes for the less qualified youth,” Hollande said adding it could be financed partly through the creation of a tax on financial transactions.
On Tuesday Merkel and Hollande will deliver speeches in front of about 1,000 of their countries’ lawmakers gathered in the Reichstag, while ministers from both governments are also due to hold a joint session.
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That’s good news.
Hopefully there’ll be enough left from Australia. To make it worthwhile.
Sounds better than it is. This will only benefit current undocumented Irish, if they’re lucky enough to get the visas. Unfortunately to get this through, Ireland will now have loads of retired Americans, who didn’t previously qualify to live here due to lack of an Irish connection and not having the minimum funds to support themselves financially, now retiring in Ireland. The Australians don’t want the visas for a good reason. They can have a better and safer life elsewhere. The Irish still look at the US with rose-tinted glasses. This article is very one sided.
@Aoife Dooley: I
@Aoife Dooley: It encourages highly qualified Irish citizens who have had their education paid for by our taxes to leave the country and help build the economy of Trumpistan. Now why is this good?
@Aoife Dooley: actually you’re wrong it only applies to people who aren’t undocumented irish. You can only apply if you aren’t living in America already. Also why would be the problem with retired Americans coming here exactly? They’ll come live here and contribute to the economy by spending money here. Also the US is safe , it’s actually one of the countries I’ve visited where I’ve felt most safe and I would love to live there. I’ve felt safer walking around New York at night than I would on O Connell street
@Sam Harms: sorry need to correct myself, you can apply if you’re living in America but only if you’re livng there legally.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I agree. We need to triple our own population so that our cities are sustainable. Encouraging our best and brightest to emigrate makes it worse for those who stay resulting in a downwards spiral
@Aoife Dooley: Could you please send a link or give some background on where you read or saw this thing about retired Americans with no means having the right to emigrate to Ireland?
@Aoife Dooley:
I’d say the house prices here will keep retiree numbers to quite a managable number.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: And to enable American citizens who have no health insurance and/or can’t afford the absurd cost of healthcare in the states to come here and avail of our already overburdened healthcare system in their twilight years.
@Sarah: do you really think these retiring Americans are going be those barely scraping by and without medical insurance and healthy pensions, yet can still afford to upsticks and move to ireland where they have no entitlement to social welfare etc.
They’ll be the middle class level buying up aran jumpers like their going out of fashion.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: People in that bracket just use the l1 anyway.
@Aoife Dooley: if you dont own property whats the point in staying in Ireland? At least people can have a chioce of countries to live in. The US is worth trying, to work and live there, Legally.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: because Ireland is a dump
I’m curious, why are the Irish Government so keen for this to happen? Shouldn’t they be encouraging people to stay and work here?! There is a skill shortage after all
@Shaner Mac: because living and working in another country is a very valuable experience. And also keep strong connections with the US is important.
@Sam Harms: It is a valuable experience but most of them won’t move back. These are renewable two years visas and once you have been there for 5 years legally you can start the process of applying for citizenship. We are paying to educate doctors and nurses who then go and provide their skills in other countries then we have to import them from other countries who probably need their own doctors and nurses.
If it weren’t for the immigrants our health service would collapse completely.
@Sam Harms: that’s enough but that’s the individuals choice, the Government shouldn’t be actively encouraging it. As for keeping strong connections with the US, then they should be encouraging our diaspora there to come here.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: it’s not that easy..you need to have “permanent residency” for at least 5 years before being eligible to apply for naturalization The E3 visa is not equivalent to a green card / permanent residency.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: maybe they will come back maybe they won’t, thats up to them, but I stand by my point that living and working abroad is a very valuable experience. Do you really think that just because someone is educated in one country they shouldn’t be allowed to go and travel the world and work elsewhere? Our doctors go work in other countries and doctors from other countries come to work here, thats just how the world works, people move to countries that they want to experience.
This is quite a big deal. Will give a real edge to Irish job applicants for companies across the world. Hope it passes the senate
I’d not bother to be honest
Lived there legally for some years.
Had the opportunity to go back and had zero interest.
The last place ya wanna get ill is the US……and don’t think Insurance will save you.
Large numbers of people declared bankrupt due to medical costs had Insurance when they were injured / fell ill. But if you can’t work you lose your insurance.
Not to mention the ridiculous deductibles.
That being said, if you’re under 30 it’s a great experience…. I suppose I can at least admit that :)
@Bob Earner: You’re right if you work you have health insurance that employer and you pay. They dont take it out of our taxes. It makes people work and not just rely on govt funds. Deductibles usually cost $10-25 per visit, makes you think twice to abuse going to DR for no reason. If at any reason you are medically disable, you can qualify for long term disability insurance if youre under 65, after that obviously MEDICARE will kick in (for retired SR). People know the loophole, trust me a lot gets MEDICAL (govt insurance for <65) that is suppose to be for really poor incapable citizen. They will treat you first in life threatening situation if you are capable or payment arrangement, why not. If you really cant pay they wouldnt take out your transplant. Nothing is free.
@worldpeace: some of that is true and some isn’t. But mostly I’ll correct you on treatme t of poor people in hospitals. In emergency situations the hospital is required to deal with the emergency regardless of your ability to pay. They then have 7 years after that to pursue payment. Prices are insane though look at the bill in the first answer here https://www.quora.com/Is-it-possible-to-go-to-hospital-for-free-in-the-United-States-without-health-insurance
@worldpeace: All that sounds so “logical”.
My US colleagues have $2000 deductible.
A friend who was legal but couldn’t afford health insurance got a bill for $35,000 for 4 days in hospital (4 days in IC because there was no room in the ward leading to THAT Bill. She was discharged from which is almost unheard of!)
Then you’ve the huge cost of healthcare compared to Single Payer schemes, you missed that bit out. When the Govt is the majority client there is less price gouging.
And the “you only go to the Doctor when you need”? Who determines that then? Your bank balance.
I had insurance, my deductible about $150 and I worked for a European Bank! I think I went twice the entire time I was there.
So do me a favour and take your “For Profit” healthcare and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Access to healthcare should be a human right. People shouldn’t go bankrupt in the THOUSANDS like they do in the US. I notice you missed that bit out in your ridiculous praise of the US Healthcare con!
@Dave O Keeffe: agree with the price, no doubt. That is why we have insurance. I’ve worked in hospital here for 25 years. I’ve seen a lot of different pts. I even took care of a lovely Irish flight attendant once. Old lady from Canada I once ask why is she here if its free there. She told me she’ll be dead by the time they fix her. RN here in CA out of school starts at almost $40ph. They will try very hard to recup the money somehow. But really, if theres nothing to take,they can not put you to jail for that. Nowadays I’ve been seeing tourist having major surgery like open heart. It’s becoming a trend that really sick people comes here straight to ER. How can they recup then? Soon that would cost some cutbacks. It is really hard to start Univ insurance now. People dont like to get taxed.
@worldpeace: the majority want universal healthcare. That Canadian lady, please do tell which elective surgery she was in for, as in your info light anecdote she could have been in to get a wisdom tooth out and you leaving that out but including her saying she’d be dead before it was fixed in Canada could lead people to believe that she had a very serious life threatening issue. Provide all facts or don’t bring it up. Considering the average RN hourly rate in America is $33.66 and you’re saying a newly qualified CA RN gets $40ph that means that pretty much every other RN must be below that rate for most of their career and also considering only 10% earn more than $45.54ph it also means no pay rises ever for a RN in CA. Either that or you’re not being entirely honest.
@Bob Earner: not praising at all. Simply saying how it works. Yes even if you have insurance it is very expensive, the deductable depends on the kind of insurance you have. I dont knw what hosp your friend went but normally there’s limited nmber of ICU rooms vs med floors so icu are harder to get. He should’ve fight it. The health system here is very expensive. We dont have a choice tho. But you know even universal ins has prob.My friend in Dublin said she has to pay €50 for GP every time she goes, and she goes often. Why if you get taxed? There are diff health insurance PPO and HMO are the biggest. Sure they are expensive to buy, less deductable=more on monthly fee so it evens out. You are right tho it is expensive and like I said RN in CA makes abt $40ph no experience.
@Dave O Keeffe: sorry, it allows 800 spaces. The old lady had a hip surgery, i’m sure that was just her ranting, her point was it was a long wait. The flight attendant had influenza I’m sure she has a travel insurance. The salary even in CA depends on living expense. I live in LA county so people in SF makes more than us cz its expensive to live there. If you know people here please ask them. I dont make the rule.
@worldpeace: like I said, I went for averages as one person is not evidence. The average pay for a RN in CA is $48.68 which makes your day one, no experience rate of $40ph implausible.
@Dave O Keeffe: that seems too low especially for CA even if you’re starting straight from college
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/registered-nurse/salary
@Diaspora’d: in your article the mean hourly rate is $34.70
@Dave O Keeffe: California’s RN average salary which was mentioned above is $101,750.
@Dave O Keeffe: also $34.70 x 40hours/week x 52 weeks = $72,176.
@Diaspora’d: read your link, they do far more than a 40 hour week
@Dave O Keeffe: you’re right they do, I am married to an RN
Let the Whinging and sniveling begin. Wha, wha, wha.
Going to need them for the next downturn
This is good news, mainly because the Aussie ambassador (a failed politician)
didn’t want it to happen: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/the-irish-are-muscling-in-on-our-special-us-visa-so-we-ve-gone-nuts-20181115-p50g8j.html
@Tanks a Minion: ok, it’s big topic to discuss, get the latest Australian immigration news here https://www.aptechvisa.com/latest-news?idaus=australia
I live in Oz and have citizenship, and I did a stint in the States and considered the E3. After living there for a while there’s no way I’d choose the US over Oz. I’m sure most Aussie’s would feel the same.
Thanks for sharing the updated news of Australian immigration
Ho to get New Zealand Citizenship from any where legal process visit aptech visa global immigration.Keep in touch for latest update and news https://www.aptechvisa.com/new-zealand-immigration/new-zealand-permanent-residency-visa
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