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France–Germany relations
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<p>France–Germany relations or the Franco-German relations form a part of the wider politics of the <a href="/facts/Politics_of_the_European_Union/txS5VAA9">European Union</a>. The two countries have a long – <a href="/facts/Franco-German_War_(disambiguation)/sD8u7kpC">and often contentious</a> – relationship stretching back to the <a href="/facts/Middle_Ages/RqzEKB9v">Middle Ages</a>. After <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a>, the two nations have largely reconciled. Since the signing of the <a href="/facts/Treaty_of_Rome/JVG01BHk">Treaty of Rome</a> in 1958, they have been among the founders and leading members of the <a href="/facts/European_Communities/cpFec2xY">European Communities</a> and later the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a> along with Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. </p><p>General relations between the two countries since 1871, according to Ulrich Krotz, have had three grand periods: <a href="/facts/French%E2%80%93German_enmity/odyJGPrc">"hereditary enmity"</a> (down to 1945), "reconciliation" (1945–1963) and since 1963 the '"special relationship" embodied in a cooperation called <i>Franco-German Friendship</i>. In the context of the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a>, the cooperation between the two countries is immense and intimate. Even though France has, at times, been <a href="/facts/Eurosceptic/0AQuWP5U">eurosceptical</a> in outlook, especially under President <a href="/facts/Charles_de_Gaulle/elj4Djpo">Charles de Gaulle</a>, Franco-German agreements and cooperations have always been key to furthering the ideals of <a href="/facts/European_integration/nrHkmsE1">European integration</a>. </p><p>In recent times, France and Germany are among the most enthusiastic proponents of the further integration of the EU. They are sometimes described as the "twin engine" or "core countries" pushing for moves. <a href="/facts/Strasbourg_tramway/aQSdAlfJ">A tram</a> straddling the Franco-German border, across the river <a href="/facts/Rhine/MgJ88oaz">Rhine</a> from <a href="/facts/Strasbourg/MTdQtoPy">Strasbourg</a> to <a href="/facts/Kehl/BKesAxjd">Kehl</a>, was inaugurated on 28 April 2017 symbolizing the strength of relations between the two countries. </p>