Friedrich Merz says a reset of relations is essential to help Europe overcome its security and economic “challenges.”
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz is calling for a new partnership with France to help Europe face its “huge” security and economic challenges.
At a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday, Mertz outlined a joint vision for deeper European integration and called for a “new European push” based on Franco Germany’s cooperation.
“We can only meet these challenges if France and Germany work together even more closely than they had in the past,” Merz said. “That’s why Emmanuel Macron and I agreed to a new Franco Germany push into Europe.”
Among the initiatives discussed were the strengthening of Franco Germany’s defense and the Security Council, Mertz said.
“We hope to better coordinate support for Ukraine within this framework, more closely coordinate defense plans and procurement projects, and find new answers to strategic questions about security and defense policy,” Mertz added.
The conference is at a time when concerns are raised across Europe about the reliability of US security guarantees amid the Russian war in Ukraine.
In a joint operation published in Le Figaro, Mertz and Macron “recognized a common commitment to contributing to just and lasting peace. [in Ukraine]US support and strong security assurances on security.”
Macron said the two countries will quickly track their new defensive capabilities.
The visit to Paris follows a rocky start after suggesting a fundamental division within the new governing coalition between his central right CDU/CSU Alliance and the Center Left Social Democrats (SPD), after the Prime Minister of Mertz needed an unprecedented two-round vote to be elected.
However, in a potential change to a more unified German foreign policy, Mertz is now primarily on the government, where both the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are held by the same parties for many years.
He also pledged to establish a National Security Council for the Prime Minister, with the aim of improving coordination of foreign, development and defense policies.
Later on Wednesday, Merz is scheduled to travel to Poland. Speaking to German state broadcaster ZDF, Mertz added that he intends to work with Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tass to shape a more stringent EU-wide migration framework.
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