Just two weeks before the European elections, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, warned this Sunday in Berlin accompanied by his German counterpart, Frank Walter-Steinmeier, against the “fascination with authoritarianism” and nationalism at a time when that there is “a kind of crisis of democracy” in Europe.
During the start of his three-day state visit to Germany, Macron stressed that there have never been “so many internal and external enemies.” “I think we are experiencing a truly vital phase in Europe,” he said during a dialogue within the framework of the Democracy Festival with which Germany celebrates the 75 years of its Basic Law and the 35 years of the peaceful revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall.
“I said it a few weeks ago: Europe can die. First of all, because there is war again in Europe”, he recalled about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his speech at the Sorbonne at the end of April. “Secondly, because one of Europe’s most important challenges is to be the first continent to achieve decarbonization, that is, to reconcile growth and climate protection, and do it in the best possible way,” he noted about one of the great challenges. that the European continent faces, among which is also that of digital change.
Europe is experiencing a great rise in far-right parties. For the French head of state, this is due, above all, to the fact that “fear fuels” extremism. “Fear of a changing world,” he later declared at a press conference held at Bellevue Palace, where he was received with military honors; “the fear that things are no longer under control. This includes climate change and also changes in habits that have occurred due to transformations in industry and agriculture,” he explained. To fight against this, Steinmeier, for his part, recommended listening to the people and requested an “alliance of democrats that opposes those who attack democracy and Europe.”
CLEMENS BILAN (EFE)
Macron’s visit comes at a time when Franco-German relations are not at their best. In an attempt to dispel disagreements between Paris and Berlin, what is the first state visit by a French president in 24 years was organized. It is much more than an official trip. In these three days everything will revolve around speeches and symbolism with a common objective: trying to show good harmony despite some disagreements or debates.
Join Morning Express to follow all the news and read without limits.
Subscribe
The first photos of hugs and broad smiles between Macron and Steinmeier were immediate. In what is the sixth state visit by a French president in more than 60 years, “the very special relationship” that the two countries talk about when asked about possible problems should be reflected.
Aware of this weight, the two heads of state referred to it from the first moment. For Steinmeier, it is a “big misunderstanding” when it is said that there are difficulties between the two countries. In his opinion, two different European countries cannot always be expected to agree on everything from the beginning. “It has always been criticized that France and Germany disagreed on certain points, but until these last few days there has been sufficient evidence to show that, despite our different starting points, in the end we have reached an agreement.”
Macron recalled that if you look at the newspapers of recent decades, there has often been talk of Franco-German friendship “stuttering” or being “paralyzed.” “But that’s not true,” he said. “We have always talked and argued among ourselves,” he said. “And we have always found a way to come together.” “I would like to say, to be honest, that I see much more of what we have in common and I see much more of what we have achieved together than what separates us. Franco-German relations are a centerpiece of Europe, they are important and indispensable for Europe,” added the French president, who after Berlin will visit Dresden accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron, and Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender. There, Macron, who is the first French president to visit eastern Germany, is scheduled to give a speech on European policy in front of the famous Frauenkirche. On Tuesday he will continue to Münster, where he will receive the Westphalian International Peace Prize.
However, no matter how well the two heads of state get along, relations between Berlin and Paris are currently considered difficult at the government level. The two capitals constantly clash on key issues. This applies both to the question of support for kyiv in the war in Ukraine and to that of economic policy vis-à-vis the United States and China. These and other issues will be discussed after the state visit at a Franco-German ministerial council to be held on Tuesday afternoon at Meseberg Castle, the German government’s guest house, north of Berlin, where Macron will be seen again with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
.
.
_