Merzcron: EU engine France-Germany is starting again

Merzcron: EU engine France-Germany is starting again

The entangled hands of the French and German leaders have long been for the spirit of European unity. This was the best known in 1984 when François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl were hand in Hand in Verdun and embodied a symbol of reconciliation.

a new chapter in the Franco-German partnership

As Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the early May, the hand of President Emmanuel Macron took the hand of President Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of May-with a warm, long handshake that was accompanied by a friendly knock on the back-the Not just a photo shoot . It was a clear sign that the most important alliance in Europe was back in motion. After years of rump and frustration under Olaf Scholz, the Franco-German engine comes back to the moment, and it has a new name: Merzcron.

revival of the Franco-German agenda

Since Merz 'Wahl, the two heads of the state have met six times-most recently Haag . On Thursday, they will once again come together for the European Council in Brussels. Your common agenda: the European answer to security, Ukraine and the uncertainties from the Trump era and to define Europe's role on the global stage.

joint vision for Europe

Before the NATO summit on Wednesday Macron and Merz outlined their vision in a joint article in the Financial Times. "In these challenging times, Germany and France - together with our European and transatlantic friends and allies - are united and strong to defend our common values ​​as well as the freedom and security of our citizens," they wrote.

strengths defense spending and cooperation

You outline plans to increase defense spending - with the aim of reaching 3.5 % of GDP into central military investments - and deepening the cooperation between NATO and the EU. They called for a stronger, more confident Europe that is no longer dependent on others to secure its security. In addition, they undertaken to ensure that Ukraine emerged "wealthy, robust and safe" from the conflict, and warned that the stability of Europe is on the brink for decades.

Merzcron: The new alliance

The signs indicate that the mighty alliance "Mercron" or "Merkocy", a word creation from the names of the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, has become an equally influential "Merzcron".

summit in Brussels

The two-day European Council, which is currently taking place in Brussels and is followed by a G7 meeting in Canada and the NATO summit in the Haag, is the first summit under Merz 'chancellery. It will probably be a further demonstration for how strong this Union can be.

votes for the Franco-German partnership

CNN spoke to two important actors of the French-German partnership-the former French President François Hollande, who worked closely with Merkel, and Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German State Secretary who was once described as Europe's best-networked diplomat-to evaluate the importance of this partnership for Europe and the world.