France, Germany firm up ties as European ‘driving force”
PARIS — Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday pledged to drive Europe forward together, as the German leader visited Paris to celebrate 60 years of post-war cooperation despite recent strains.
The historic partnership has been under pressure from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and broader tectonic shifts.
But in a speech at the capital’s Sorbonne University, Scholz said upholding strong ties was key for the continent.
“The future, like the past, rests on cooperation between both our countries as the driving force of a united Europe,” he said.
Macron said that “Germany and France, because they cleared the path to reconciliation, must become pioneers to relaunch Europe.”
He cited the need to “build a new energy model,” encourage “innovation and the technologies of tomorrow,” and ensure the European Union is “a geopolitical power in its own right, in defense, space and diplomacy.”
The two leaders were then to take part in a joint cabinet meeti
