For the first time in 24 years, a French president is expected to make a state visit. The leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group is increasing the pressure on Chancellor Scholz beforehand.
CDU chairman Friedrich Merz has demanded that French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Germany send a clear signal on European policy.
“Especially in these difficult times, this state visit must send out a clear signal – more than just a declaration of intent. It must be concrete,” Merz, who is also head of the Union faction in the Bundestag, told rbb24 Inforadio. “Germany and France depend on each other. Germany and France are the engines of European unification,” Merz added.
Macron is expected this Sunday for the first state visit by a French president in 24 years. The visit was already planned last year, but was cancelled at short notice by the French side. Macron will first be received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. On Tuesday, Macron and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) are expected to attend the German-French Council of Ministers in the Federal Government’s guest house, Meseberg Castle, north of Berlin.
Merz in the “Economist”: Preserving the European way of life
In an article for the British “Economist,” Merz warned that an axis of autocracies was threatening the rules-based international order and was trying to push back democracy and freedom around the world. The global power struggle between America and China threatened to divide the world into two geopolitical hemispheres again. Merz demanded that efforts should now focus on preserving a “European way of life.”
But one can only fight for democracy around the world if democracy is protected at home, Merz continued. The European project needs the support of its citizens, and to do so it is important to regain control over irregular migration. “The rise of right-wing populism is primarily due to the uncontrolled influx of migrants and Europe’s inability to distinguish between those in need of protection and those without,” Merz criticized.
The pressure of migration will continue to increase, warned the Union parliamentary group leader. It is therefore crucial to secure the external borders and break the business model of people smugglers. To this end, Europe’s heads of state and government should enable the EU border protection agency Frontex to monitor the borders as a full-fledged border police and coast guard, with enforcement powers that are currently reserved for the member states.
“Europe has no time to die”
The current difficulties in Franco-German relations, which are largely due to disputes within the coalition government in Berlin, are causing frustration across the continent, Merz wrote. “We must strive for a new golden era in Franco-German relations, preferably with close ties to Poland within the Weimar Triangle.” Merz concluded by saying: “The time to act is now. Europe has no time to die.”
At the end of April, Macron called for a push in Europe towards more independence, economic strength and security at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He said at the time: “We must be clear today that our Europe is mortal, it can die.”
Source: Stern
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