EU crippled: How bitter feuds between EU-27 could topple bloc in Brexit talks

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron's countries have come to blows over a number of issues in recent years, as highlighted by Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform. He highlights how, for example, Berlin did not consult Paris before agreeing to the Nord Stream gas pipeline opened in 2011.

...Mr Grant added: "She [Merkel] also ignored the French view that Huawei was a potential security threat and that there should be a common EU response to the Chinese company.”