PM makes slip-up in German speech

PRIME Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault accidentally described his latest talks aimed at smoothing Franco-German relations as 'dreadful'.

His comment was quickly clarified, not without sniggering from the media - Ayrault, a former German teacher, had confused the words fruchtbaren Austausch (fruitful exchange) and furchtbaren Austausch (terrible, or dreadful exchange).

Ayrault yesterday met Chancellor Angela Merkel in a bid to improve relations after the election of President François Hollande, who does not share Merkel's views on the future of the Eurozone or France's economic policies.

Next January members of both German and French parliaments will meet in Berlin to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, which set the foundation of modern relations between the two countries – a relationship critical to the European Union.

Photo: jmayrault