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Chronology
1958
In a private, low-key trip, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer visits French President
Charles de Gaulle at de Gaulle’s country home in Colombey-les-deux-Eglises.
July 1962
Chancellor Adenauer makes a formal visit to France. The highlights of
the trip are a Franco-German field parade in a military training area
at Reims and a Franco-German service at Reims Cathedral in which both
Adenauer and de Gaulle take part. Adenauer’s trip follows a state
visit to France in June by Federal President Heinrich Lübke, the
first such trip by a German head of state since World War II.
1962 - 
De Gaulle receives a hearty welcome during a state visit to Germany.
August - September 1962
President de Gaulle makes a state visit to Germany.
January 22, 1963
In Paris, President de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer sign the Treaty
of Franco-German Co-operation (Elysée Treaty). Among other things,
both governments agree to regular consultations on foreign policy. In
addition, it is agreed to hold half-yearly meetings between heads of government
and ministers for foreign affairs, defense, education and youth. The German
Bundestag ratifies the Elysée Treaty on May 16, 1963.
July 1963
The first consultation meeting between the German and French governments,
as agreed in the Elysée Treaty, takes place in Bonn. Foreign ministers
Schröder and Couve de Murville sign the agreement on the establishment
of the Franco-German Youth Office.
September 1968
At consultations in Bonn, De Gaulle and Adenauer agree to "special
co-operation" on foreign policy and European policy. They demand
the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia.
June 1969
The election of Georges Pompidou as French State President marks the beginning
of a new chapter in Franco-German relations. His new prime minister announces
France’s support for the enlargement of the EC and the incorporation
of more areas into community policy.
February 1972
At a joint Franco-German press conference, Pompidou stresses France's
approval of the Federal Republic's policies on Eastern Europe (Ostpolitik)
and on East Germany.
October 1972
After Paris and Bonn agree to re-establish plans for an economic and monetary
union, the European heads of state and government come to an agreement
on the first concrete steps towards setting up such a union. Helmut Schmidt
and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, then ministers for economics and
finance, play a decisive role in securing these agreements.
May 1974
Co-operation between Germany and France on European policy becomes closer
following the election of Helmut Schmidt as Chancellor and Valéry
Giscard d'Estaing as French President.
1977 – 
Schmidt and Giscard d’Estaing in consultation.
February 1977
At the Franco-German consultations in Paris, Schmidt and Giscard announce
their wish to revive plans for a European monetary union.
March 1979
After a compromise is reached on the currency equalization mechanisms
in agriculture, the European Monetary System comes into force.
July 1980
As the first French President after de Gaulle, Giscard d'Estaing pays
the Federal Republic of Germany a state visit.
July 1981
At the Franco-German consultations, there is agreement on security policy,
but differences emerge between the French policy for growth and German
policy for stabilization.
October 1982
Helmut Kohl becomes Chancellor and on October 4 travels to Paris to stress
the continuity of close Franco-German relations.
1983 – 
President Mitterand addresses the German Bundestag.
January 1983
State President Mitterrand visits Bonn to celebrate the 20th anniversary
of the Elysée Treaty. In a speech to the German Bundestag, he supports
the Federal Government's decision to rearm.
September 1984
State President Mitterrand and Chancellor Kohl meet at the former battlefields
of Verdun for "reconciliation beside the graves".
September 1987
State President Mitterrand pays a state visit to the Federal Republic
of Germany. In memory of the visit of Charles de Gaulle, who addressed
young people at the Schlosshof von Ludwigsburg in September 1962, a Franco-German
youth rally is held at the same place. At this rally, Chancellor Kohl
and Prime Minister Chirac speak to the 5,000 participants.
September 1987
At the Franco-German military exercise "Kecker Spatz", 55,000
German and 20,000 French soldiers test the deployment of a "rapid
strike force" under German high command. At the end of the exercise,
Kohl and Mitterrand announce the formation of a Franco-German defense
council to co-ordinate the security policy of both countries.
February 1988
The former State President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and former
Chancellor Helmut Schmidt call for the creation of a European Central
Bank.
March 1988
The Franco-German Council for Economics and Finance meets for the first
time and consults on economic development and budgetary issues in both
countries.
1988 – 
Kohl and Mitterand are awarded the Charlemagne Prize.
November 1988
In Aachen, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and State President François
Mitterrand are awarded the Charlemagne Prize jointly.
November 1988
Following talks with public-sector television organizations, Germany and
France agree to found a Franco-German culture channel.
June 1989
State President Mitterrand speaks out in favor of German reunification
at a press conference with the state and party leader of the Soviet Union,
Mikhail Gorbachev.
September 1990
At the 56th government consultations in Munich, items on the agenda include
the so-called "Two plus Four Agreement" and other issues relating
to German unity.
December 1991
After many years of Franco-German discussion at various levels and thorough
preparations made in Paris and Bonn, agreement is reached at the EC Summit
in Maastricht on the Political Union and the Economic and Monetary Union.
October 1993
During the course of the year, Franco-German relations are centered on
the future of the European Union, which is to come into force on 1 November.
This is also the subject of Helmut Kohl's address to the French Senate.
He is the first foreign head of government to make such an address.
July 1994
On the French national holiday, for the first time since the end of the
Second World War, German soldiers parade along the Champs-Elysées
as part of the Eurocorps brought into service the year before.
February 1997
France and Germany deploy a joint contingent for the first time as part
of the international SFOR forces.
1997 -
At the consultations in Weimar the two countries focus on education and
culture.
Sept 1997
The 70th Franco-German Summit in Weimar focuses on education and culture.
The two countries announce the launch of Franco-German training courses,
closer co-operation on cultural policy at the Foreign Offices, and promotion
of university exchanges through the establishment of the Franco-German
university as a lasting association between German and French universities.
June 2000
During his state visit to Germany, State President Chirac gives a talk
on the future of Europe, speaking in favor of the active participation
of civil society in the joint efforts to construct a common Europe and
in favor of strengthening Franco-German relations.
December 2000
The EU Summit in Nice is subject to Franco-German disputes on the weighting
of votes in the Council. Important questions on the future shape of the
Union as regards institutions are left unresolved.
2000 – 
Schröder shows Chirac the sites in Berlin.
January 2000
Following disputes before and during the Nice Summit, Chancellor Schröder
and State President Chirac hold a meeting in Blaesheim and resolve to
intensify Franco-German consultations by introducing informal meetings
of the heads of state and government alongside the meetings of the foreign
ministers. These so-called "Blaesheim Meetings" now take place
every 6 to 8 weeks.
October 2002
Before the start of the European Summit in Brussels, France and Germany
come to an agreement on financing the Common Agricultural Policy up until
2007 and by doing so smooth the way to enlarging the EU.
January 2003
40th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty
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