Merz and Macron agree on renewed Franco-German 'push for Europe'

France and Germany will seek to jumpstart their relationship, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz said on the new German chancellor's first trip abroad yesterday, working "systematically together" in a "new push for Europe".

- Jon Henley

Merz told the two leaders' joint news conference in Paris that a reset in Franco-German relations was vital to help Europe become more secure, competitive and unified so it can overcome "enormous" security and economic challenges.

Merz said: "We will only be able to meet these challenges if France and Germany stand even more closely together than in the past. That is why Emmanuel Macron and I have agreed on a new Franco-German push for Europe."

The two countries will "set up a joint defence and security council that will meet regularly" as part of efforts to boost defence cooperation and investment, the French president said. They would also aim to coordinate economic reforms, he added.

The Franco-German engine has traditionally helped drive the European project but has all but stalled of late, due most recently to infighting and inaction within the former chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition, which collapsed in November.