The Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly (French: Assemblée parlementaire franco-allemande, APFA; German: Deutsch-Französische Parlamentarische Versammlung, DFPV) is a joint body of the German Bundestag and the French National Assembly formed to enable cooperation between both houses.
| Formation | 25 March 2019 |
|---|---|
| Type | Inter-parliamentary institution |
| Headquarters | |
| Membership | 100 members of parliament |
Official languages | French, German |
Chairpersons | |
Background
editThe French and German parliaments had previously held a joint session on occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, a key document for France–Germany relations after World War II, in January 2003.[1]
First steps for an inter-parliamentary organisation were laid with regular meetings of parliament committees during 2018.[2] This led to the Aachen Treaty, signed by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron on 22 January 2019. Subsequent talks between Bundestag and Assemblée nationale representatives ultimately resulted in an inter-parliamentary agreement to create a new parliamentary assembly, which was approved separately by both legislatures.[3]
The assembly's first session was held on 25 March 2019 in Paris after the agreement was signed by Wolfgang Schäuble and Richard Ferrand, each parliament's president.[4]
Purpose
editThe parliamentary assembly does not have the capacity to make binding resolutions or legislation, nor any budgetary authority. Its goal is to discuss matters of French-German cooperation, such as the ratification of the Aachen Treaty, cross-border development projects, and the implementation of EU Directives. Other topics for discussion include foreign, defence and security policy.[5]
Sessions are held twice per year, alternating between Paris and Berlin.[6]
Membership
editThe joint assembly is composed of 100 members, 50 sent by each parliament. The President of the Bundestag and President of the National Assembly are its chairpersons. An administrative bureau (French: bureau de l’Assemblée, German: Vorstand der Versammlung) led by Sabine Thillaye (France) and Andreas Jung (Germany) was formed.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gunkel, Christoph (22 January 2013). "Treaty Heralded New Era in Franco-German Ties". Spiegel Online. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "More Than Just a Ticking Clock: The New Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly". German Marshall Fund of the United States. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Paris okays proposed French-German parliamentary assembly". Deutsche Welle. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "'Historic day' - French-German parliament meets". BBC News. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Schäuble unterzeichnet deutsch-französisches Abkommen". Spiegel Online (in German). 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Germany establishes parliamentary assembly with France". Deutsche Welle. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- ^ Robert, Aline (26 March 2019). "Discrete launch of cooperation between French and German parliament members". Euractiv. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
External links
edit- On the Bundestag website: "Deutsch-Französische Parlamentarische Versammlung" (in German).
- On the Assemblée nationale website: "Assemblée parlementaire franco-allemande" (in French).
- French-German Parliamentary Agreement: in German and in French