Franco-German Friendship Day in Islamabad

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, January 24,  2022: 22 January 2022 marks the second anniversary of the Treaty of Aachen which raises the Franco-German partnership to a new level of closer cooperation and enriching friendship.

This new chapter is based on all the constructive developments resulting from the Elysée Treaty signed in January 1963 between Chancellor Adenauer and General De Gaulle, a founding text that sealed reconciliation after the Second World War. To commemorate this historic event, the German and French embassies in Pakistan meet for a luncheon with the recreated menu of 1963 originally served on the occasion of the signing of the treaty at Elysée Palace.

It is an opportunity to pay tribute to the countless citizens, students, political leaders, and civil society activists who over the decades have been building the foundation of the strong and vibrant Franco-German friendship we see today. Thanks to their unceasing effort, people, regions, cities, schools, and universities on both sides are closer today than ever before.

Within the European Union, France and Germany have been a major driving force strengthening peace, solidarity, and cohesion through a multitude of joint initiatives.   These values are very much in line with the program of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2022: a more sovereign Europe, a new European model of growth, and a human-oriented Europe.