France - Germany 60 year friendship treaty anniversary - as both Nations pledge continued support to Ukraine

France and Germany are celebrating their decades-long friendship with a day of talks Sunday on Europe’s security, energy and other challenges.

Germany’s entire Cabinet is in Paris for joint meetings during the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. And 300 lawmakers from both countries are coming together at the Sorbonne University to mark the treaty that sealed a bond that underpins today’s European Union.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz oversaw two rounds of talks at the Élysée Palace focusing on energy and economic policy and defence.

“Let us use our inseparable friendship ... to shape the present and future of our continent, together with our European partners,” Scholz said at the ceremony at the Sorbonne.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the European peace project is at a “turning point,” he said.

Read more at: https://www.euronews.com

Open Skies Treaty: Trump Announces U.S. To Exit Open Skies Treaty | HuffPost

The Trump administration notified international partners on Thursday that it is pulling out of a treaty that permits 30-plus nations to conduct unarmed, observation flights over each other’s territory — overflights set up decades ago to promote trust and avert conflict.

The administration says it wants out of the Open Skies Treaty because Russia is violating the pact, and imagery collected during the flights can be obtained quickly at less cost from U.S. or commercial satellites. Exiting the treaty, however, is expected to strain relations with Moscow and upset European allies and some members of Congress.

President Dwight Eisenhower first proposed that the United States and the former Soviet Union allow aerial reconnaissance flights over each other’s territory in July 1955. At first, Moscow rejected the idea, but President George H.W. Bush revived it in May 1989, and the treaty entered into force in January 2002. Currently, 34 nations have signed it; Kyrgyzstan has signed but not ratified it yet.

 Read more: Trump Announces U.S. To Exit Open Skies Treaty | HuffPost

Germany: Merkel and Macron sign newTreaty of Aachen to revive EU

Merkel and Macron sign Treaty of Aachen to revive EU 

Read more at:
https://p.dw.com/p/3Bvdi

Russia-US relations: If Trump Administration leaves treaty Russia will build missiles

Russia will build missiles if US leaves treaty, Putin warns -

Read more: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46458604

Iran Nuclear Treaty: Unfreezing Iran’s economy could benefit everyone

Their economy gasping for air, Iranians expect a new crossdraft from the release of their frozen assets, part of the breakthrough deal trimming their country’s nuclear ambitions.

How those assets will bounce back, and how quickly, is far from fully predictable. De-toxifying the international regulatory atmosphere will be complex, but meanwhile, President Rouhani is keeping the message to his people simple.

Rouhani said: “Today is a new beginning, the beginning of a better future for our young people, and the beginning for our beloved Iran to accelerate its development.”

Major companies want to accelerate back into this market of some 80 million consumers. The general figure being floated is of some $100 billion in Iranian assets set to be unfrozen, personal or governmental assets, which by right means the assets of the Iranian people.

In response to his president’s promise, one Tehran store owner said: “Sure, it can be a new start. Our oil production will change, and in the end the economy. As far as I know, European countries are ready to invest in Iran and to have Iran invest there.”

Another retailer said: “No one would negotiate without a purpose. Sure, they’ll profit from our country, but it will be really good for us.”

Read more: Unfreezing Iran’s economy could benefit everyone | euronews, world news

Germany, France examine radical push for euro zone integration

Germany and France are exploring radical methods of securing deeper and more rapid fiscal integration among euro zone countries, aware that getting broad backing for the necessary treaty changes may not be possible, officials say.

Germany's original plan was to try to secure agreement among all 27 EU countries for a limited treaty change by the end of 2012, making it possible to impose much tighter budget controls over the 17 euro zone countries - a way of shoring up the region's defences against the debt crisis.

But in meetings with EU leaders in recent weeks, it has become clear to both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy that it may not be possible to get all 27 countries on board, EU sources say. As a result, senior French and German civil servants have been exploring other ways of achieving the goal, one being an agreement among just the euro zone countries. "The goal is for the member states of the common currency to create their own Stability Union and to concentrate on that," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told ARD television.

Another option being explored is a separate agreement outside the EU treaty that could involve a core of around 8-10 euro zone countries, officials say.

For more: Germany, France examine radical push for euro zone integration