Two days after he was sworn in for the second time at the Elysee Palace and immediately after his speech in Strasbourg for Europe Day, the newly elected President Emmanuel Macron is expected this afternoon at the Chancellery. A short joint press conference, one-on-one meeting and then a working dinner are scheduled for the two leaders from 18.00 German time onwards.
“This is a visit with a special symbolism on the day of May 9, Europe Day,” said a senior Elysian official. According to reports, the aim of Olaf Solz and Emmanuel Macroney is to send a message of unity and close coordination of the next moves of Germany and France in terms of sanctions against Russia, the further deployment of weapons systems in Ukraine and of course the strengthening of European security and defense. .
Other issues at the top of the agenda are energy independence from Russia and the strengthening of cooperation in the fields of digital security and space technology.
The “thorn” of the budget
But in addition to the Ukrainian issue, another sensitive issue for bilateral relations is expected to be on the table: the reform of strict European public debt rules, something that France has been pursuing for some time, in the face of German opposition.
The French side considers that Maastricht’s famous criteria for a budget deficit of no more than 3% and public debt of no more than 60% of GDP are outdated and need to be updated. President Macron has long advocated more flexible rules in this critical area, given the huge French public debt (110% of GDP) and deficit (6.5% of GDP).
However, sources say that this “hot” issue will not be analyzed in depth at the moment, as the priorities of both sides are currently turning “to the East”.
In the colors of Ukraine the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate will also be lit in the colors of the Ukrainian flag late this afternoon, around the time the two leaders meet. This is an initiative of the French Presidency of the EU for Europe Day. As a representative of the chancellery clarified at the government briefing a few hours ago, the German parliament and other government buildings are not expected to be illuminated in Ukrainian colors.
Finally, it remains open whether Soltz and Macron will announce today from Berlin a joint trip to Kyiv. At the moment this is not confirmed, at least by the French side, but it is a “scenario” circulating in recent days in the German press.
Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin
Source: Deutsche Welle
Source: Capital
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