Chancellor Scholz and President Macron want to bring new impetus to German-French relations. At the start of the joint cabinet meeting in Hamburg, both emphasized the importance of joint action.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron invoked German-French friendship with a new format. The two heads of state met for the first time in Hamburg for a joint cabinet meeting.
“We see that our two nations must work together,” said Macron, referring to global crises and challenges. “I would even say that perhaps even more than before, we need to be a driving force together for our two countries and our Europe.” This requires pragmatism and efficiency. The French President explained that the closed meeting was the start of a process that would very soon result in “concrete answers”.
Macron: EU must also represent a geopolitical power
The new format of the meeting, in which the cabinets of both countries discuss issues such as artificial intelligence or European competitiveness for two days, is an expression of a special relationship of trust, emphasized the Chancellor. “It is clear that we want a united, strong Europe,” said to the press on the first day of the meeting.
“We see the need for our countries to act in unison,” emphasized Macron. Voting is a driving force for development in Europe too. The EU must also represent a geopolitical power.
“We are tackling two very fundamental topics: firstly, how we can create social cohesion in times of fundamental change. And secondly: how do technological developments – for example artificial intelligence – affect our lives?” said the chancellor.
Joint phone call with Biden, Sunak and Meloni
The start of the German-French cabinet meeting had actually been imagined differently, said Scholz, with a view to the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip. “This attack by Hamas on Israel is terrible and it is barbaric,” said the SPD politician. Germany and France are firmly on Israel’s side. “I once again express my full and complete solidarity with Israel,” Macron also said. “The fight against terrorism is a common task that we will continue with Israel and our allies and international partners. Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it.”
Scholz and Macron announced that they would hold a telephone call with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Disputes should be avoided
The cabinet meeting with France is unique. Although the federal government is holding government consultations with a number of countries, so far only France has had so-called councils of ministers, which are now likely to be replaced by closed meetings. Such meetings will now take place alternately in Germany and France every year.
It had been emphasized in advance that disputes between the two states, for example over joint military projects or the conflict over a new electricity market design in the EU, should not be resolved at the talks in Hamburg. As with the cabinet meetings in Meseberg, it was more about brainstorming and getting to know the cabinets of both countries, it was emphasized in government circles.