Germany praises new direction in French economic policy

Germans caution that implementation will be difficult

By Andreas Rinke and Noah Barkin

canada goose outlet boston BERLIN, Jan 15 (Reuters) Germany praised on Wednesday Canada Goose Parka economic plans buy canada goose jacket unveiled by French President Francois Hollande as canada goose clearance a courageous direction which could revitalise France just as welfare state reforms a decade ago succeeded canada goose uk shop in its larger neighbour. canada goose outlet boston

canada goose outlet 2015 Under pressure over a lacklustre Canada Goose Coats On Sale economy and high unemployment, Hollande outed himself canada goose outlet as a democrat in the canada goose clearance sale German mould on Tuesday and announced a canada goose factory sale series of measures, including Canada Goose online public spending cuts and tax relief for business. canada goose outlet 2015

canada goose outlet uk sale Germany, which was once dismissed as the man of Europe has rebounded in recent years thanks partly to the reforms of Gerhard Schroeder, the Social Democrat predecessor of conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel. canada goose outlet uk sale

Berlin has been discreetly encouraging Hollande to take similar steps since the Socialist became president in 2012.

canada goose outlet toronto factory also took its uk canada goose outlet time and had to overcome certain hurdles before it could agree on reforms of the economy cheap Canada Goose and labour market that promised improvement in canada goose coats on sale the economic situation, said Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, a member of the Canada Goose Outlet German Social Democrats (SPD) and Schroeder former chief of staff. canada goose outlet toronto factory

canada goose outlet ontario the French president presented yesterday is first of all courageous, he added, describing the measures buy canada goose jacket cheap as a new direction in policy that would help not only France, but Europe to emerge stronger from its financial crisis. canada goose outlet ontario

France risks inheriting sick man of Europe title with the economy forecast to grow just one percent this year. Most economists say this is too little to bring down unemployment as Hollande has promised.

The European Commission also welcomed the measures, saying they promised to strengthen the competitiveness of French business and bolster growth and employment in the country.

canada goose outlet new york Claire Demesmay, an expert on France at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said Hollande appeared to be breaking several taboos with his announcement. canada goose outlet new york

Just last May, at a 150 year anniversary canada goose black friday sale celebration of the German SPD, Hollande made clear that he saw canada goose store himself as a socialist, not a social democrat. French leftists have long regarded social democracy which aims to achieve welfare structures and solidarity within a free market economy as dirty words because they imply an acceptance of capitalism.

Demesmay likened the French president plans to both Schroeder reform drive and the SPD decision in 1959 to break with Marxism, but said appearing to follow German policies carried risks for Hollande.

canada goose outlet paypal Marine Le Pen, leader of France far right National Front, accused the president of their country after his Tuesday news conference. canada goose outlet paypal

canada goose outlet parka cannot bind himself too closely to Germany, Demesmay said, adding that big Franco German initiatives were unlikely before European Parliament elections. Populist parties on the left and right, including Le Pen are expected to do well in the May vote. https://www.canadagoosejacketonlines.ca canada goose outlet parka

canada goose outlet montreal Others in Germany warned that it was too early to declare Hollande reform drive will succeed given strong opposition from French unions and members of his own party. canada goose outlet montreal

canada goose outlet seattle has opened a big can of canada goose uk outlet worms that will unsettle his country, the conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote in an editorial. Europe, and especially in Berlin, people will be watching closely to see if he can stay the course with his shift canada goose outlet seattle.