French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Germany next month, with his meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz continuing more longer than originally planned, reported Reuters, cited by BTA, citing government sources.
This is a sign of the ambition of the two leaders to strengthen unity in the European Union, the agency commented.
Macron initially said his state visit would run from May 26 to 28 and that another visit to Germany could follow in June, one of the sources told Reuters. This could be interpreted as a signal that relations between Paris and Berlin remain strong despite reports of a deep disagreement between the two leaders.
Macron and Scholz have shown support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion, but their views on ways to help the country differ and Germany is more cautious about arms supplies and sending troops, the British agency notes.< /p>
Last week, Macron and Scholz said at the EU summit that they both want to introduce a capital markets union in the EU and cut red tape in the single market. The sources told Reuters that a new Franco-German ministerial meeting is planned at the Meseberg Palace, north of Berlin, at the end of next month, so Macron will stay longer in Germany than originally planned.
The French president is under domestic political pressure because he does not have a majority in parliament, and according to opinion polls, Eurosceptic parties on the far right and far left could have a strong showing in the European Parliament elections in early June. This motivated both Macron and Scholz to emphasize their clear pro-European course.
The French head of state will be received by his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and will deliver a speech on Europe in Dresden. On May 28, he will receive the peace prize of the city of Münster.
Macron had planned to make his state visit in July last year, but had to cancel it shortly before his departure because of the riots that broke out in some French cities.
A meeting within the so-called Weimar Triangle, which includes France, Germany and Poland. The idea is for the forum to take place in June and to coincide with the European Championship soccer match between France and Poland, which will be played in Dortmund on June 25, the sources said.