In a world beset by geopolitical upheaval, the meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today carries immense significance. Once the unquestioned power duo at the helm of European politics, both leaders now find themselves grappling with unprecedented domestic and international challenges that threaten to overshadow the 62nd anniversary of the landmark Élysée Treaty.
The Scholz-Macron Summit: A Meeting of “Two Lame Ducks”?
The German news magazine Der Spiegel made waves by dubbing the Scholz-Macron rendezvous a meeting of “two lame ducks” – a stinging assessment that underscores the perils facing both leaders. Scholz, struggling to connect with voters and trailing in polls ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections, cuts a diminished figure compared to his predecessor Angela Merkel’s commanding presence. Macron, meanwhile, is mired in a seemingly endless domestic political crisis that has sapped his authority and dimmed the luster of his second term.
Momentous Issues on the Agenda
Yet the stakes of the Paris summit could hardly be higher. From navigating the treacherous geopolitical terrain of Donald Trump’s return to the White House to calibrating Europe’s response to the grinding war in Ukraine, Scholz and Macron face a dizzying array of challenges that will test their partnership and shape the continent’s future. Looming over it all are existential questions about European competitiveness and strategic autonomy in a world increasingly defined by great power rivalry.
A Fraying Franco-German Partnership?
Complicating matters further are the evident strains in the Franco-German relationship, the bedrock upon which the European project has been built. A recent poll commissioned by the German Embassy in Paris revealed that a majority of French citizens – 51% – now harbor negative views of Germany, even as they acknowledge the importance of close bilateral ties. The survey laid bare a striking lack of familiarity with their Teutonic neighbors, with 67% citing the German language itself as a “particular liability.”
The rules of engagement are changing. Some in Europe may not like this new reality, but we must deal with it. Our values do not change, but to defend them, some things must change.
– Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President
Shifting Sands of European Integration
Perhaps most alarming was the precipitous decline in those who view France and Germany as the twin engines of European integration – plummeting from 53% in 2020 to a mere 18% just four years later. This erosion of faith in the Franco-German tandem as Europe’s indispensable catalyst reflects the enormity of the internal and external pressures bearing down on the continent.
- Key Franco-German Summit Issues
- Responding to the “Trump factor” and shifting geopolitics
- Coordinating Ukraine war strategy and support
- Boosting European competitiveness and strategic autonomy
- Reinvigorating the Franco-German partnership and vision
Europe at a Crossroads
As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in stark terms to the European Parliament, “We have entered a new era of harsh geostrategic competition…The rules of engagement are changing.” Her message was unmistakable: Europe must adapt to defend its values in a hardening world, and the impetus must come from within.
For Scholz and Macron, the Paris meeting represents a critical opportunity to breathe new life into the Franco-German partnership and reaffirm their leadership in steering Europe through the gathering storm. With the global order in flux and the continent’s future in the balance, the two leaders must rise above their domestic travails, bridge the growing gaps in perception and purpose, and chart a bold course forward. The alternative – Europe adrift and divided in the face of epochal challenges – is simply unthinkable.
