Macron and Merkel affirm a "convergence" of views in the face of international crises

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel was welcomed this Thursday by Emmanuel Macron at Fort Brégançon, the holiday residence of French presidents. But the Chancellor will not have time to enjoy the landscapes of the Var. The two heads of state spoke all afternoon on diplomatic matters. They spoke after a studious afternoon during which they displayed the “convergence” of views of the Franco-German couple.

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The German Chancellor is in the "  best place in the world  ". That's what she said when she arrived at Fort Brégançon this Thursday. In the relaxed atmosphere of the place, only football managed to separate, on the tone of the joke, the German Chancellor and the President, the first wishing a victory for Bayern Munich and the second that of PSG on Sunday in the final of the Champions League.

On the rest, the President and the Chancellor publicly displayed the same unity as at the last European summit in Brussels which, in July, had approved the post-Covid-19 recovery plan of 750 billion euros.

"  Germany and France cooperate in the most effective way once they have defined common objectives  ", summed up Emmanuel Macron to the press between a two-hour bilateral meeting and the working dinner taken at bedtime sun on the terrace of the fort.

This cooperation, the two leaders want to implement in an attempt to weigh in the current crises, whether in Lebanon, Mali or Belarus, for which they are proposing European mediation in conjunction with Russia.

Navalny, Turkey, Covid-19, Europe

Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel also expressed "  willing to give all " necessary assistance  "to the opponent Russian Alexei Navalny , in intensive care in a hospital in Siberia. Angela Merkel said she was "  upset  " by her fate and called for "  transparency  ", as Emmanuel Macron, "extremely concerned and saddened".

The two heads of state were also keen to smooth out the differences of view on the sensitive issue of attitude towards Turkey in the context of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean .

"  Our strategic objective is the same: European sovereignty and stability,  " said the French president, acknowledging that the approaches of Berlin and Paris had "  not always been the same in their terms  ".

For them, strong cooperation between European countries is also deemed necessary to deal with the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic. Paris and Berlin particularly insist on the need to agree, "  on a common basis  ", on the measures taken at the borders in order to "  avoid the mistakes that were made at the start of the crisis  ", according to Emmanuel Macron.

On European issues, the two leaders are counting on the German EU presidency until the end of the year to advance sensitive issues, such as the climate or migration.

Brexit is another common concern of Berlin and Paris as difficult negotiations have resumed this week without having really progressed in recent months.

After Briton Theresa May in 2018 and Russian Vladimir Poutin last year, Angela Merkel was the third leader to be invited to Brégançon by Emmanuel Macron who has made this fort a place to welcome distinguished guests while avoiding the solemnity of the Parisian presidential palace of the Elysee.

(With AFP )

► To read also: Europe: Macron-Merkel, a meeting strong in symbols in Brégançon

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• France
• Emmanuel Macron
• Angela Merkel
• Germany
• Diplomacy

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