Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the first Franco-German Ministerial Council since Germany's government change in Toulon. Ten ministers from each side attended to align economic and security policy. Both leaders described the bilateral partnership as central to Europe's future. The joint statement said deepening security cooperation would include a focus on France's nuclear forces. Germany's defense and foreign ministers met counterparts in Copenhagen to seek stronger support for Ukraine. Merz said he spoke to the US president, asserting that EU digital market regulation expresses bloc sovereignty and must not face external pressure.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired a Franco-German Ministerial Council in Toulon, the first since Germany's government change. Ten ministers from each side joined to focus on economic and security policy, with both leaders calling their partnership central to Europe's future. Such meetings are usually held once or twice a year, alternating between Germany and France as hosts, to align policies and initiatives.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he has spoken to Donald Trump regarding EU regulation of its digital market, saying he told the US president that such regulation is an expression of the bloc's sovereignty, and that questioning this principle was unacceptable "We are doing this in our own interest and solely for our own interest, and we will certainly not be guided by statements that perhaps consider completely different, perhaps even no, regulation necessary," Merz said.
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