German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have emphasized their shared commitment to implementing strategic measures aimed at reviving the European economy.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets, that the two leaders reached a consensus during high-level discussions regarding the future of the bloc's industrial competitiveness.
Speaking alongside Macron during an informal summit of European Union leaders held in Belgium, Merz stated that they both seek a more agile and efficient European Union.
"We want it to be better. Above all, we want to ensure that we have a competitive industry in Europe," he noted.
The French President also highlighted that he and Merz share identical views on the necessity of taking decisive action on behalf of Europe to secure its economic sovereignty.
The informal summit, hosted at the Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, focused primarily on the competitiveness of the EU economy, which is currently grappling with excessive bureaucracy, barriers within the European single market, high energy prices, and intensifying competition from China and the administration of US President Donald Trump. The meeting serves as a critical platform for the EU's two largest economies to align their policies before formal legislative sessions in Brussels.
Historically, the Franco-German engine has been the primary driver of European integration and economic policy. As the global trade landscape shifts, particularly with the renewed economic policies of US President Donald Trump and China's industrial expansion, the coordination between Berlin and Paris is seen as vital for maintaining the stability of the Eurozone and the global standing of the European single market.
