French President Macron’s State Visit to Germany
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to arrive in Germany for an extended state visit from May 26 to May 28. This is the first visit of a French leader to Germany in the past 24 years.
According to Reuters, Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, will begin his trip by meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. The next day, on May 27, he will visit Dresden, and on May 28, he will be in Muenster.
However, the most significant part of his visit will be a meeting in Meseburg, near Berlin, where the governments of both countries seek to align their views on two key issues — defense and competitiveness.
France and Germany also aim to find a common position on the future of the European Union for the next five years, taking into account the potential success of far-right parties in the parliamentary elections in June, which could complicate decision-making within the EU.
Macron’s visit is seen as a test of German-French relations, which are a key factor in shaping EU policy, according to Reuters. This comes against the backdrop of serious challenges for Europe, ranging from the conflict in Ukraine to the potential election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.
