50 Years of Franco-German Friendship

On January 22, 1963, Germany and France sealed their friendship with the Elysee Treaty. The relationship has seen many highs and lows, but over the last 50 years it has become the engine that drives the European Union.

Despite occasional difficulties, the Franco-German friendship is an incredible accomplishment. Both sides must continue to work hard at it, says DW's Bernd Riegert.

Franco-German relations thrive on language acquisition – and the sooner a person starts learning, the easier it is to pick up a new language. In a Parisian kindergarten, teachers take a playful approach to bilingualism.

For a decade, German businessman Frank Esser headed French mobile phone company SFR. After his tenure, his staff is now familiar with German ingenuity - and Esser knows what it's like to deal with French regulation.

At first, people in both towns were skeptical. But this initial doubt has given way to a valued partnership between the French Hauteville and the German Ronneburg, a friendship that has been nurtured for 20 years.