Merz-Macron meeting: Germany and France to set up 'joint defence and security council'

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Merz-Macron meeting: Germany and France to set up 'joint defence and security council'  The meeting between the two leaders was an attempt to revive the stalled 'Franco-German motor' before Germany's new chancellor heads to Poland.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/07/germany-and-france-to-set-up-joint-defence-and-security-council  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00Germany's newly elected Chancellor, Frédéric Merz, made his first official visit abroad to France on Wednesday,

00:08hoping to relaunch the Franco-German relationship.

00:12Both him and French President Emmanuel Macron announced during a press conference some key security initiatives,

00:20including a Franco-German Defence and Security Council vowing to act hand-in-hand when it comes to mounting security challenges across Europe.

00:31And when it comes to the war in Ukraine, although both were cautious of announcing anything concrete like the deployment of peacekeeping troops,

00:41both leaders did say that they were ready to provide security guarantees to Kiev

00:46the moment that a lasting peace treaty and ceasefire have been concluded.

00:53The German Chancellor stressed multiple times the importance of the United States' role with trying to end Russia's full-scale invasion.

01:03But beyond defence, the German Chancellor is also looking to reset ties with Paris and also with other countries abroad

01:10after a bumpy start at home, when on Tuesday he failed to be elected in the first round of voting within the German Parliament.

01:21But his more flexible stance on fiscal rules and defence spending have been warmly welcomed here at the Élysée Palace.

01:29Still, key differences remain, like, for example, when it comes to the free trade Mercosur agreement.

01:36The French President warned that any treaty must protect European producers,

01:41whilst Merz, during the press conference, said that this treaty should be ratified as quickly as possible.

01:48And although both leaders did show quite a united stance this Wednesday,

01:53it's true that Europe's future will depend on how this new Franco-German duo will navigate what comes next.

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