The Franco-German summit begins this Sunday in Paris after several months of postponement

Macron, Scholz and their top ministers will share their vision for the future of Europe amid security and economic uncertainties

BERLIN, 22 Jan. (DPA/EP) -

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, meet this Sunday in Paris on the occasion of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the reconciliation treaty between the two countries and after several months of postponement due to certain disagreements in " key issues" of European policy, in particular on defense and energy.

The meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. with a ceremony of the Elysée Treaty at the Sorbonne University, at the start of the 23rd Franco-German Council of Ministers, which will bring together the heads of the main portfolios of both countries, before a joint declaration that will have place in the afternoon and in which a Franco-German comment on their perspectives regarding the future of Europe is expected.

Paris has advanced that it does not expect substantial announcements in this regard or on the war in Ukraine, the dominant issue in the talks, and in particular the German misgivings when it comes to supplying tanks to kyiv.

On the other hand, and regarding the economic issue, both countries will launch a message of cooperation in relation to the supply chain, the transition to a sustainable economy and a possible reaction to the US Inflation Reduction Act that could put Europe at a competitive disadvantage.

Both parties have emphasized that Franco-German relations are characterized by the search for common ground and by close bilateral cooperation on issues as specific as youth professionalization, which is why the first participants of the recently created "Generation Europe" network will be presented. " for young German and French professionals.

Before the meeting, Scholz and Macron highlighted their desire to strengthen Europe in an invited article for the German newspaper 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', in which they highlighted key points for a sovereign Europe in which people can live in peace, prosperity and freedom. .

"For a strong Europe of tomorrow, we must now invest more in our armed forces and in the foundations of our defense industry," the chancellor and president wrote. This, they said, will improve defense capabilities and make Europe a stronger partner for the United States as well.

"We will strongly advocate an ambitious strategy to promote the competitiveness of European industry and a European environment that fosters competition and innovation," Scholz and Macron added, without directly addressing the disadvantages for Europe feared by the new Inflation Reduction Act. from USA.

Both leaders also stressed that they are striving for rapid and concrete progress in the EU enlargement process.

"We must ensure that an enlarged European Union remains capable of acting, with more efficient institutions and faster decision-making processes, in particular by extending qualified majority voting in the council," the two leaders wrote, referring specifically to the Western Balkan countries, most of which are at different stages of the long process of joining the European Union.

To become the world's first carbon-neutral continent, they added, there must be a focus on low-carbon, renewable energy and the use of hydrogen. "We will work on a better functioning of the electricity market and we will participate in the joint purchase of gas at a European level," they stressed.