‘Hot chick Europe. Hello, darling! Who do you fancy speeding off with?’ On 24 September 1960, German cartoonist Horst Haitzinger paints an ironic picture of the European action of French President de Gaulle and Federal Chancellor Adenauer, depicted as two bikers flirting with Europe. Which of the two leaders will carry the fate of Europe? The previous day, 23 September 1960, General de Gaulle sent a letter to the German Chancellor in which he emphasised the importance of Franco-German cooperation to promote European political unity.