Macron in Berlin: What’s the state of French-German relations? | DW News

Macron in Berlin: What’s the state of French-German relations? | DW News

Emmanuel macron is in Berlin for the first state visit by French president in 24 years Franco German relations have been strained recently especially as Europe is facing serious challenges the war in Ukraine and trade relations with China among them a moment of joy in challenging times for democracies the French President kicked off his State visit to Germany by attending festivities commemorate ating the 75th anniversary of the German Constitution he seized the opportunity to highlight the importance of democracy the problem we have today is that in our democracies we have become accustomed to democracy and we have forgotten that it is very often a fight and we let the nationalists and often the enemies of democracy take all the dividends of democracy and criticize it existentially for all these reasons it’s important to go out and vote in the European elections for the party we support for the German president macron’s participation in the event sent a clear message we want to celebrate democracy together and I believe it is also proof of the depth of Franco German friendship that Mr and Mrs mcro are here with us to commemorate the anniversary of the German Constitution the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany 75 years ago bu rep for while the first day of macron’s visit was full of images of unity Berlin and Paris still disagree on some crucial issues most notably over how to support Ukraine both countries support arms deliveries but Germany would like to see Paris step up its financial support the first part of macron State visit didn’t focus on complicated political issues but controversial issues are on the agenda and set to take the spotlight when the joint government cabinets meet on Tuesday M DW DW’s Chief political editor she joins me now uh from Berlin M day two of a three-day visit uh tell us more about this the current state of the Franco German relationship well it’s an Open Secret that German Chancellor Olaf Schultz and French president Emmanuel mcon really haven’t hit it off and that their working relationship is exactly that and no more H that makes it more difficult to get France and Germany to pull in the same dire direction to and to choose the same paths when they try to solve common problems one of them of course is Ukraine here it’s also an Open Secret that Germany would like France to do more France on the other hand has sent cruise missiles which Germany refuses to do France won’t rule out troops on the ground that’s something German Chancellor Olaf Schultz is absolutely ruling out and the list goes on uh to other issues including how the European energy Market should be structured France of course believes um is heavily reliant on nuclear fuel H Germany left nuclear fuel now for good uh so they speak literally different languages but we saw them pledged to be ambitious when it comes to resolving those very issues during those political talks we expect on Tuesday today is more symbolism with Emmanuel maon first at the memorial for Jews here in Berlin and then heading to Dresden in the East where the far right afd rides high in the opinion polls holding a European speech there uh you mentioned his visit to Jon is he trying to send a message here absolutely um what both count share is that that there is a significant rise of farri parties the national in France and in Germany it’s the farri alternative for Germany party particularly strong in those easn States including in Saxony in thuringia a neighboring state we saw um Regional elections very local elections which see a neck and neck race between the conservative CDU the former party of Angela marle and the farri afd and here Emmanuel Marco clearly is teaming up um with the German government holding a European speech and trying to sell a pro-european stance in those areas where it’s most difficult to a highly selected audience I might add and before then talking about the nitty-gritty near Berlin in MAAC on Tuesday Micha K there thank you very much Micha thank you very much

Emmanuel Macron is in Berlin for the first state visit by a French president in 24 years. Franco-German relations have been strained in recent years — especially as Europe faces serious challenges, the war in Ukraine and trade relations with China among them.

00:00 Intro and report
02:07 DW’s Michaela Küfner reports from Berlin

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