German-French restart: Merz and Macron want to solve armaments dispute until the end of August

Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron want to enclose the dispute over the joint development of the Air Foundation system FCAS by the end of August. At their meeting in Berlin, they commissioned their defense ministers to “evaluate a realistic perspective on further cooperation in the FCAS consortium and to submit suggestions for the settlement of existing conflicts”, as the German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius announced after the more than three-hour consultations at a dinner in Villa Borsig on Lake Tegel.

German expectation is that the French company Dassault “adheres to the existing agreements”. According to this, Dassault, Airbus Germany and the Spanish company Indra should be involved in one third in the project. According to Dassault, 80 percent are now striving for what is out of the question for Germany.

On August 28 and 29, a joint cabinet meeting of the two governments will take place in Toulon in southern French. Until then, the dispute should be included. The FCAS air combat system is said to be operational from 2040 and replace the KAMPENJET Eurofighter. It is said to fly in the network with unarmed and armed drones and is more than a fighter plane. The total cost of FCAs is estimated on a three -digit billion -dollar amount.

Merz and Macron show instruments in the customs dispute

In the customs dispute with the USA, Merz and Macron were determined to react to possible US tariffs with countermeasures. “The two sides agree that they should reserve other trade policy instruments should the negotiations not lead to success,” said Kornelius. One is also ready to “develop new measures”.

The United States wants to raise tariffs from 30 percent on EU goods on August 1st. Negotiations with the EU are currently underway to prevent this with a trade deal. Before the meeting, Merz had indicated that there could be a quick agreement. Among other things, one will advise on the “current trade policy” to “hear in these minutes that there may be decisions,” he said. There was no question of that after the meeting.

Request for ceasefire in the Gaza War

Merz and Macron were concerned about the situation in the Gaza Strip and appealed to the Israeli government to “initiate an armistice immediately and to take humanitarian measures in the immediate vicinity”, Kornelius said. France recently signed the appeal of 28 countries to terminate the Gaza War, which Germany has not joined.

Discussions with Selenskyj about fighting corruption planned planned

In the “very trusting” conversation there was also a “long and intensive debate” about the situation in Ukraine, which was not only about military support, but also about the domestic political situation, said Kornelius. Parliamentary decisions to restrict corruption control had led to protests in several major cities in Ukraine. Macron and Merz wanted to talk to the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj about it, it was said – also with a view to the EU ambitions of Ukraine.

First visit to Germany since the change of government

It was Macron’s first visit to Germany since the change of government in Germany on May 6th. On the day after his election as Chancellor, the CDU politician Merz started to Paris to collapse a “restart” together with Macron into the Franco-German relationships that are clearly cooled under his predecessor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Both now want to continue working on this and deepen their cooperation at all levels.

“We are on the foundation of a close Franco-German friendship, which has grown for decades. And we both find this a great obligation to continue working on it in the next few years,” said the Chancellor before the interview.

Tomato salad, seafood and veal back

The meeting took place in a villa on Lake Tegel, which once belonged to the Borsig family and is now a guest house of the external office. Merz had his guest served tomato salad, Helgoländer seafood with cauliflower and bean kernels as well as veal back with summer vegetables, chanterelles and gnocchi. He also set himself off from his predecessor Scholz. In October 2023 he tried to inspire Macron with a fish roll when visiting his hometown of Hamburg – in vain.