The presidents of France, Emanuel Macron, and Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, stressed today that a "re-establishment" of Europe was urgently needed as soon as a new government took office in Berlin.
"We both share the deep feeling that this re-establishment is necessary and urgent and that the year that will begin will be absolutely decisive in this regard," said Emanuel Macron after their conversation at the Elysee Palace, on the occasion of ceremonies for the anniversary of the end of the First World War.
"It's our common responsibility, as soon as the coalition government takes office, to work for it. "It's the job I intend to do with Chancellor Merkel," he said.
"The coalition partners that have been formed have all spoken during the election campaign about the role of the Franco-German couple in promoting a new European project," said Emanuel Macron, expressing hope that the outline of this The plan will be clarified "in the coming months".
The German president welcomed the "courageous" speech delivered by Emanuel Macron on September 26 at the Sorbonne, which opened a series of reform paths for Europe "at a time when there was a lot of skepticism".
The two heads of state then traveled together to Alsace to inaugurate the French-German Hartmansvilkerkopf Memorial Center in the afternoon on one of the bloodiest battlefields of World War I.
These inaugurations will mark the beginning of the events for November 11, the date of the Armistice that ended the battles of 1914-18.
"This joint visit and this gesture do not constitute a return to a painful past for our two countries, it is the fulfillment of the common duty of memory," said Emanuel Macron. "What we are doing today (…) is that we are building a story together because it is the foundation of a common future, because we have a lot to do together," he added.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier underlined "the importance of reminding our peoples once again where we come from", especially "at a time when we are still struggling to emerge from the European crisis".