France and Germany have launched ministerial talks aimed at deepening cooperation on defence, artificial intelligence, critical raw materials and Europe’s future budget.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and 10 ministers from each country began consultations on Friday at Brühl’s Augustusburg Palace.
The agenda includes the European IRIS-2 satellite network, joint artificial intelligence projects and efforts to secure supplies of vital raw materials.
The two governments also want to prepare negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget with the aim of reaching an agreement before Europe’s key election year in 2027.
Merz welcomed Macron with military honors outside the Augustusburg Palace. Soon after the ceremony, a French Rafale fighter jet and a German Eurofighter flew over the venue.
Located just south of Cologne, the castle is of particular importance to Franco-German relations. In 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle proposed a friendship treaty to German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
That initiative led to the Elysee Treaty, which remains the foundation of cooperation between the two countries.
According to the famous local story, Napoleon was so impressed by the Augustusburg that he regretted that it “had no wheels”, because otherwise he would have taken it back to France.
Ahead of Brühl’s visit, Merz and Macron and their defense ministers met at Norwich Air Base as part of the Franco-German Defense and Security Council.
The discussion also included plans to strengthen nuclear cooperation between the two countries.