Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Emmanuel Macron
This day is strategically extremely important, "as an opportunity to coordinate our agendas very closely," said Chancellor Angela Merkel at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at his summer residence, Fort de Brégançon close to Toulon. This is significant, she said, for many European and international issues on which their talks focused.
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Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Chancellor to his summer residence, Fort de Brégançon.
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
"Europe is only strong if it speaks with one voice," stressed Chancellor Angela Merkel. This is particularly important with respect to international crises, such as those in Libya and Belarus, and in the conflict between Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean. "We need stability there – not tensions," declared Angela Merkel. Germany and France aim to join forces to find good solutions.
With respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Chancellor, the goal is to take "more European action". "The pandemic is not over." The aim, she said, is to take a similar response to high-risk areas, rather than having to lock down the entire country again. The two leaders also discussed how the recovery fund and the multiannual financial framework adopted in July by the European Council can be used in order to invest in Europe’s future – to make it more resilient, more independent and more sovereign.
Continuing the afternoon’s talks
Following the press conference, the French President invited the Chancellor to dinner before she returned to Berlin. Over dinner they planned to continue the afternoon’s talks, including the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. As a result of the pandemic, social distancing was obviously observed throughout their meeting.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron at the joint press conference
Fort de Brégançon, 20 August 2020: The Chancellor was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to a meeting on the French Riviera.
It was the first time that Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte had welcomed Angela Merkel to the President's summer residence, Fort de Brégançon on the French Riviera.
The two leaders discussed many international issues.
The current situation in Lebanon and Belarus, the conflict over gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the military coup in Mali were on the agenda.
The two states intend to speak with one voice in the face of international crises. In Mali, they intend to continue the fight against terrorism in the region in spite of the military coup.
The country needs stability on the basis of democratic structures, said the Chancellor.