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60 years ago, France The United States and Germany sealed their reconciliation and their commitment to world peace with the signing of the Élysée Treaty on January 22, 1963. Closing a painful page in their history and looking resolutely towards the future, the German and French peoples they became allies, partners and friends. Our governments and societies worked with full conviction towards this goal. We are convinced that peace can and must be the only path to the future after our peoples have lived and suffered war too many times. This concept is today the basis of European coexistence, a fundamental conviction that was recently reaffirmed with the Aachen Treaty, in 2019.
Europe is on the way to greater integration, where common responsibility comes to complete and enrich national sovereignty. Those who respect their neighbor, who dialogue, who guide their actions around law and justice, are no longer on the warpath. We, the authors of this forum, remember the times – not so long ago – when a visit to the other side of the Rhine River required hours of waiting at the border station, of the exchange houses that still delivered German marks or francs, foreign currency They lose their usefulness once they cross the border. One would think that they are details, but both the creation of the Schengen area and the European monetary union were historical measures that meant a great step forward. In addition, programs like Erasmus+ allow young people from all over Europe and the world to travel, meet and live together. As an economic, political and social model, the European Union has been and continues to be a success story.
Franco-German friendship is based on the understanding that reconciliation, balance and trust are essential for peaceful coexistence. It is based on common values: free and democratic elections, division of powers, access to justice, education, health, equality for all before the law, freedom of expression and the media, social inclusion. These values are not only Franco-German or European, but we also share them with Mexico. In the field of global issues, we work hand in hand within the United Nations to protect the environment, fight climate change and guarantee gender equality.
We are committed to the demanding defense of the wide range of human rights. For 10 years, our embassies in Mexico have awarded the Gilberto Bosques Franco-German Human Rights Award, which rewards Mexican individuals or organizations for their exemplary performance in the defense of human rights. Yesterday we had the pleasure of recognizing the immense work of the winner for 2023: the House of the Tiresias Dolls, a shelter founded by Kenya Cuevas that provides support to trans people and fights for a more tolerant society towards LGBTIQ+ populations.
As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, these common values take on an even deeper meaning for us in a context marked by the return of war to the European continent. For almost a year now, the Ukrainian people have suffered the devastating consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against their free nation. This conflict, which is the continuation of the 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula, violates international law and the sovereignty of states, with which both our countries, Mexico and the vast majority of the community international are firmly committed. We reaffirm our support for Ukraine. This war posed major European and global challenges in the areas of food security, energy sovereignty and migration. These challenges are being taken up thanks to greater cooperation –both European and global– which has strengthened us so far; We will continue working in this regard.
We continue to believe in and bet on a social, inclusive and peaceful future following the route traced by the authors of the Elysee Treaty. This route was chosen by a large majority of the countries in the world, including Mexico. Today, the French and the Germans only wish that the path we undertook together and with which we sealed our friendship on January 22, 1963, is also open to other peoples who aspire to freedom and democracy. Even to sovereign Ukraine.
* Ambassador of France
** Ambassador of Germany
Joint article of the ambassadors on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, of January 22, 1963.
