Élysée Treaty
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Élysée Treaty also known as the Treaty of Friendship, was concluded by Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer in 1963.
It set the seal on reconciliation between the two countries. With it, Germany and France established a new foundation for relations that ended centuries of rivalry between them. On 22 January 2003, the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty was celebrated.
[edit] Contents of the Treaty
The treaty was the result of Charles De Gaulle's efforts to create a stronger core Europe without the U.S. and UK, which he viewed as having too much influence in NATO and therefore in Europe. The treaty called for consultations between France and West Germany on all important questions and an effort to come to a common stance. Regular summits between high level officials were also established.
In the end, the U.S. reasserted its influence over West Germany which renounced the key parts of the treaty. West Germany was too dependent on the U.S. for its security. This ultimately also led to the fall from power of Adenauer.
More information on Franco-German cooperation.
[edit] Text of the Treaty
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