Germany and France are two of the important countries in the European Union. Among these two countries, only France has the power of veto. Right now the relations between both countries are very much better. One of the reasons behind the sour relationship in the past was the war. But later both countries made reforms and agreed for a mutual and healthy relationship. Even tourism presented a good image of both countries in front of the natives. Here the role of translation is noteworthy as it brings people of linguistic differences on one point. If we talk about the French people’s interest in Germany, the role of German document translation services will rise on its own. Why? Well, these French people need to translate their visas and other documents into German so that they follow the German rules and can comply with them.
In this read, we are going to not only discuss the German and French business relations but also explain how translation brings these multilingual and multicultural people together.
France and Germany Bilateral Relation
One of the most important and intricate bilateral ties in Europe is between France and Germany. The partnership has its roots in both historical conflict and reconciliation. This partnership has grown to become a pillar of European collaboration and togetherness. Both countries use this bond for economic growth. The Franco-German alliance is a living example of how two formerly antagonistic countries can work together and influence each other.
The core of the European Union’s economic engine is Franco-German economic cooperation. Being the EU’s two biggest economies, both nations have a significant influence on its economic policy. From trade agreements to fiscal laws, both these countries have a lot in common. Other than that, their collaboration has been essential to keeping the Eurozone stable, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis. Programs like the Franco-German Economic and Financial Council ensure that both nations work together on important problems like innovation, taxes, and the transition to green technology.
Role of the Franco-Prussian War
The main reason behind the war which affected France and Germany was the change of power dynamics in the European Union. The goal of Prussia, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, was to create an empire out of all the German states. This gave Germany an upper hand and France felt threatened as it would lose all its power if Germany took the leading role. Heat was created when a member of the German royal family was considered for the Spanish throne. This led France to believe that they would be surrounded by German allies. Hence, war broke out to nullify this German rulership. This little dispute swiftly escalated into a massive conflict with far-reaching effects for both nations in the form of war in 1870.
France was the one who suffered both militarily and politically in all of this. However, Germany gained the status of major European power after the war. This status also earned Germany competition and gate from other EU countries. This war also brought fruitful results as it made both nations realize how dangerous destruction is for both of them. After World War II, both countries realized they needed to end the cycle of violence and that continuing their competition would only result in more damage.
French-German Business Connections – Role of German and French Translation
As both France and Germany have good relations now, this fosters great business relations as well. There are many French and German businesses working in both countries, which is a live example of their bilateral relations. For instance, Aldi is a German supermarket chain operating in more than 18 countries. They even provide services for France, not just services but also customized services. Aldi has translated its website for French audiences for their easy understanding. And all of this has been possible because of French translation services.
Translation plays quite a big role in facilitating relations between both countries. Approximately 95% of Germans speak the German language while French is the only official language of France spoken by a majority. In order to get the attention of both native speakers, it is important to communicate in their native language. This is where translation becomes a necessity. There are many other German businesses that are successfully operating in France, all because of translation such as Lidl, Bosch, Siemens, etc.
French businesses operating in Germany are as follows:
- Louis Vuitton
- Peugeot
- Lacoste, et cetera
Hence, German document translation services are equally important for these French businesses as they need to ensure effective communication and conformity with the rules. This is why the above mentioned businesses are successful in Germany.
Final Words!
To sum up, France and Germany have had their share of rivalry and both nations have clearly lost a lot because of it. Now the relations between both countries are quite great for which translation services are rightly credited. With translation, both France and Germany translate their content for the target audiences and go for healthy business relations.