To observers of European politics, it came as no surprise to see France and Germany taking opposing positions as talks over Greece’s new bailout deal came down to the wire in mid-July. The Franco-German engine has driven European politics for decades with separate visions for economic policy: Berlin demands greater fiscal and monetary discipline, and Paris focuses instead on using government spending to stimulate growth.
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/europe%E2%80%99s-new-economic-divide?utm_source=YaleGlobal+Newsletter&utm_campaign=0586c00757-Newsletter9_14_2010&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2c91bd5e92-0586c00757-207760089
