French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Germany for a three-day state visit starting Sunday, marking the first French presidential state visit to Germany in 24 years. The trip, including stops in Berlin, Dresden, and Muenster, aims to showcase unity between the EU’s two largest powers ahead of the upcoming EU parliamentary elections.
Macron’s visit comes at a critical time for Europe, facing challenges such as the Ukraine war and the potential re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have had public disagreements on defense and nuclear energy, but recent compromises on fiscal reform and power market subsidies have demonstrated a united front in EU policymaking.
Key events during Macron’s visit include meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegner, a speech in Dresden, and a significant cabinet meeting in Meseberg to address defense and competitiveness issues. The leaders will also seek to find common ground on the EU’s five-year agenda amid anticipated complications from a strong far-right showing in the June parliamentary elections.
The visit highlights the importance of Franco-German relations in driving EU policies and comes as both nations navigate their differences on European defense strategy, especially in light of potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy under Trump. The period between the EU parliamentary elections and the next German elections is seen as a strategic window for advancing ambitious EU plans.
