Now in Berlin, they're marking the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty signed by General de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer in 1963. Ritula Shah's been following the days of hits.
The French and German anthems playing in Berlin, there were smiles, handshakes and joint session of French and German MPs in the Reichstag. It was a celebration of half a century of cooperation. It was also a contrast to the more recent relations between Paris and Berlin. Sharp differences have emerged over how to manage the crisis in the Eurozone. In Libya and Mali, France has backed intervention while Germany has remained on the sidelines.
Today, the German chancellor and the French president insisted their personal relationship was strong and battered away speculation that the Franco-German access was at an all-time low. Back in 1963, the aim of the Elysee Treaty was to put an end to centuries of European conflict. It was to transform warring neighbours into powerful allies who'll be the driving force of European integration.
