Macron-Soltz meeting in Paris aimed at demonstrating unity

THE Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Solz will meet in Paris, together with their cabinet, in a joint meeting expected to dominate issues of economy, energy, defense and European politics.

The meeting takes place on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty between them of France and Germany, which sealed the friendship between the two countries 18 years after the end of World War II.

After a ceremony at the Sorbonne at 11:00 (local time 12:00 Greek time) Macron and Soltz they will meet together with their ministers at the Elysee Palace.

In October this annual meeting between the Cabinets of France and Germany it was postponed due to the two countries’ disagreements on a number of important issues, raising concerns about problems on the Franco-German axis.

Both sides have since emphasized their shared views and close cooperation.

Today’s 23rd joint cabinet is the first to be held since 2019, after restrictions to contain covid-19 were lifted.

As war has returned to the European continent, Macron and Soltz have expressed their desire for “Europe to become even more dominant”, investing more in defense and adopting “a strategy to strengthen European industrial competitiveness”.

Besides, the two leaders will try to agree on European reforms to limit the rise in energy prices.

On the defense side, although recent progress has been made on the development of a European fighter aircraft, the Future Air Combat System (SCAF), disagreements over air defense remain. Berlin is promoting a defense shield that would include an Israeli system, with which 14 European countries agree. However, Paris is working on its own system together with Italy, in the name of Europe’s “strategic independence”.

Macron and Scholz may also discuss the issue of sending heavy tanks to Kyiv, which has raised Germany’s misgivings.