French President Emmanuel Macron is set to arrive in Germany on Sunday for a three-day state visit, followed by a bilateral cabinet meeting. This visit aims to demonstrate unity between the European Union’s two largest powers ahead of next month’s EU parliamentary elections.
Macron’s visit to Berlin, Dresden, and Muenster marks France’s first presidential state visit to Germany in 24 years.
The visit serves as a crucial gauge of the health of the German-French relationship, pivotal for EU policymaking. It comes amid significant challenges, such as the war in Ukraine and the impending US election.
Despite their contrasting leadership styles, the two leaders have clashed publicly on defense and nuclear energy. Nonetheless, compromises were reached on multiple fronts, enabling the EU to present a more united front.
“There are tensions in the German-French relationship but in part precisely because they have dealt with some difficult topics,” said Yann Wernert at the Jacques Delors Institute in Berlin, noting the two countries had also converged on the need to expand the EU eastwards.
The visit is “an attempt at the highest political level to demonstrate that the relationship is working,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the Eurasia Group think tank. “But there are still fundamental gaps on major questions that are looming over the EU.”
Furthermore, Macron’s visit to Germany underscores the significance of France Germany visit in shaping the future of the European Union.
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