It will not work without the German-French friendship – the French President made this clear during his state visit. Growing nationalism is threatening Europe, warns Macron – and together with Steinmeier calls on people to go and vote.
The Franco-German engine is running – without stuttering, as French President Emmanuel Macron made clear during his state visit to Germany. “French-German relations are essential and important for Europe,” said Macron in Berlin, where he faced a duel at table football with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier and the French politician attended the Democracy Festival in the government district to celebrate 75 years of the Basic Law. The Federal President emphasized that the celebration together with Macron was also “proof of the depth of the German-French friendship.”
“I really believe that Europe can die”
In view of growing nationalism in Europe, the two politicians want to send a signal of unity. Macron warned against electing nationalists to government responsibility. “If they had been in power, we would not have had vaccines (…) and would have abandoned Ukraine to support Russia,” he said, referring to the corona pandemic and the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. There is a “fascination with authoritarianism,” Macron warned, adding: “I really believe that Europe can die.”
Steinmeier and Macron want to use the visit to encourage people in Germany to vote in the European elections in two weeks. Macron has already called for this at the Democracy Festival in Berlin. This is not least due to the concern that, as experience shows, low voter turnout plays into the hands of right-wing parties. In the 2019 European elections, turnout in Germany was 61.4 percent.
Relationship is not the best right now
As good as the two heads of state get along with each other, relations between Berlin and Paris are currently difficult at government level. There is always friction between the two capitals on key issues.
Macron is committed to greater European autonomy with its own defense strategy and protection of the economy from unfair competition from China and the USA. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, is sticking to his transatlantic orientation and the important trading partner China.
And in the Ukraine conflict, Macron recently surprised Scholz with his thoughts on sending ground troops, something Scholz categorically rejects. Scholz also rejects the delivery of long-range “Taurus” cruise missiles to the country attacked by Russia. France, on the other hand, has been providing its “Scalp” missiles for some time.
First state visit in 24 years
French presidents come to Berlin quite often for political talks, but the last formal state visit was made by President Jacques Chirac in 2000. Unlike a working visit, a state visit always lasts several days and follows a set protocol, which includes, for example, a state banquet and a visit to at least one place outside the capital.
After Berlin, Macron and his wife Brigitte will travel to Dresden on Monday. There, the French president will give a speech on European politics in front of the Frauenkirche. On Tuesday, they will travel to Münster, where Macron will be awarded the International Peace of Westphalia Prize. Steinmeier will give the laudation. After the state visit, the German-French Council of Ministers is scheduled for Tuesday evening in Meseberg Castle, north of Berlin.