The end of Angela Merkel’s reign has been accompanied for several weeks by a litany of tributes. The latest, the declared will of French President Emmanuel Macron to give him the insignia of Grand’Croix of the Legion of Honor. A way of honoring the longevity of the Chancellor but also the “years of fruitful work between the President and the Chancellor in order to strengthen Franco-German bilateral cooperation, marked in particular by the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 2019 , and to contribute to the European project ”, underlines the Elysée.
An essential European dimension in the speech of Emmanuel Macron, who repeats that “Europe cannot move forward if Germany and France do not agree”. He chose to take Angela Merkel to Beaune, Côte-d’Or, for her last visit to France as Chancellor. They will visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a 15th century architectural jewel of flamboyant Gothic style, which had already hosted François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl for a dinner during the 63rd Franco-German summit in June 1993.