Merz Welcomes Macron in North Rhine-Westphalia – Government Consultations with Symbolic Power and Question Marks

The symbolic choice of venue references the founding act of bilateral relations after the Second World War. The gathering in Brühl is therefore also understood by the Federal Government as a deliberate signal to reaffirm the Berlin-Paris axis in uncertain times. Merz spoke of a time "die von einem strategischen Aufbruch Europas geprägt ist, aber auch die Festigung dieses deutsch-französischen Zusammenwirkens bedeutet".

To kick off the day, the leaders of both governments met in the morning at Nörvenich Air Base to convene, under the leadership of Merz and Macron, the German-French Defense and Security Council. Subsequently, from 11:00 a.m., the so-called Ministerial Council convened at Augustusburg Castle in Brühl, attended by eight ministers from each government.

Defense Council at Nörvenich Air Base

According to the Federal Government, the agenda included, among other items, the topic of "Gesellschaftlicher Austausch". In addition, Merz announced that both sides wanted to further advance the export of hydrogen between Algeria and Europe as well as between Algeria and Germany. "Wir wollen auch zwischen Algerien und Europa, zwischen Algerien und Deutschland den Export von Wasserstoff weiter voranbringen", Merz added.

In this context, Merz pointed to Algeria's role for European energy supply. The North African country had made a "sehr wichtigen Beitrag" to Europe's energy supply security in recent years and had been the second-largest pipeline gas supplier to the European Union. This also brings the EU's external energy policy more sharply into focus of bilateral coordination.

Algeria and Energy Cooperation in Focus

Despite the splendid backdrop and the friendly words, analysis provides clear indications that the concrete results of such meetings frequently fall short of expectations. "Prunkvolle Kulisse, freundliche Worte, lange Gespräche - doch der viel zitierte 'deutsch-französische Motor', der auch Europa antreiben soll, läuft nicht rund", according to one assessment.

Political scientist Ulrike Franke of the European Council on Foreign Relations therefore advocates advancing joint projects that are not merely "von gutem Willen" getragen, "weil man sich so gern hat". She calls for designing cooperations in such a way that they can outlast political changes.

Franke said in conversation with the ARD capital studio that it would make sense to identify projects that could even survive an extreme right-wing or extreme left-wing French government. "Was ich mir wünschen würde, ist, dass man sich ein bisschen mehr anguckt: Was sind denn die Kooperationen, die selbst eine extrem rechte oder auch extrem linke französische Regierung überleben könnten?", she asked.

Criticism of the Effectiveness of the Ministerial Councils

The question of the effectiveness of the Ministerial Councils is also viewed critically in Berlin. Apart from the political symbolism and staging, the Ministerial Councils are not so terribly effective when measured by what is actually implemented in the end. At present, it would presumably be particularly important to prepare the German-French relations for times of crisis.

A year ago, during a visit to Macron's summer residence on the Côte d'Azur, Merz had still proclaimed optimistically: "Der deutsch-französische Motor ist wieder angesprungen." Then as now, the principle holds: the symbolism is strong, but between announcement and implementation there is regularly a gap.

The deliberations in North Rhine-Westphalia are therefore also intended to fill the announced "Motor" with concrete content. These include, alongside the energy cooperation with Algeria, apparently also defense and security policy issues, which were discussed at Nörvenich Air Base.

Observers interpret the choice of Nörvenich and Augustusburg Castle as a deliberate staging of two complementary thematic fields: military cooperation and civilian, historically rooted partnership. Both sides are thereby attempting to present the German-French relations as the indispensable core of European policy.

Domestic Political Significance for Merz

Expectations regarding concrete decisions are muted. Observers point out that joint sessions alone do not yet replace binding agreements. At the same time, pressure is growing in both capitals to make the bilateral axis more capable of acting in the face of international crises.

For Merz, the meeting also carries domestic political significance. The German-French relations are considered a field in which the Federal Government can demonstrate foreign policy capability for action. The consultations offer an opportunity to make this visible beyond the capital's public sphere.

At the end of the day, it will become apparent whether the symbolically charged staging in magnificent castles and at a military airfield translates into concrete projects. The search, urged by Franke, for cooperations that outlast political changes remains one of the open questions for the coming months.