A Franco-German “reset” for Europe.

As we face war on our continent, fierce global competition, accelerating climate and technological change and the threat of global trade wars, we have agreed on a comprehensive agenda to reset our relationship and strengthen Europe. We want our partnership to be more strategic, more operational, to deliver results for our citizens and for the Union. We will bring the Franco-German reflex and coordination to full swing for a more sovereign Europe, focusing on security, competitiveness and convergence. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shattered the illusion of guaranteed peace and security in Europe. We have already assumed more responsibilities for our own security, and we will take on more. We will further ramp up our own defence capabilities, also to strengthen the European pillar of NATO. We will increase expenditure on security and defence, support the European defence technological and industrial base and promote a dynamic European preference, building on the Commission’s proposals for public and private investment tools. We must deliver on reducing strategic dependencies and the number of defence systems in Europe, developing standardisation and interoperability for a well-functioning market and a “best athlete” logic for the industry, continuing work on the relevant financing options. We must enhance joint production, procurement and acquisition in priority capability areas as agreed at EU level. We will set up regular Franco-German Cabinet meetings on strategic, defence and national security matters: to coordinate our support to Ukraine, our defence planning and production, our strategic defence objectives, as well as on our upcoming national security policy reviews. We will re-energize our bilateral defence cooperation projects to meet our current and future needs, also developing a joint defence innovation program. We stand united and firmly committed to a sovereign and independent Ukraine. We will never accept a dictated peace and will continue supporting Ukraine’s defence against the Russian aggression. We will work with the US, Ukraine and European partners towards a full and lasting ceasefire. Once in place, we are ready to contribute to a just and durable peace, with US security support, solid security guarantees, in particular a strong Ukrainian army, to deter any future Russian aggression. We will also coordinate our approach on Russia and the systemic threat it poses to European security. Prosperity is an absolute condition for our sovereignty. We will accelerate and deliver on the EU Competitiveness agenda. To lower energy costs and guarantee security of supply, we will implement a Franco-German ‘reset’ on energy policies, based on climate neutrality, competitiveness and sovereignty. This means implementing the principle of technologic neutrality: ensuring non-discrimination on all low carbon energies at EU level; implementing a pragmatic approach to low carbon hydrogen; recognising that natural gas can be a bridging technology for EU Member States needing it; and focusing on carbon emissions in our energy targets. Building on a comprehensive view of our energy markets, we commit to plan efficient investments in core networks, including cross-border infrastructure. We agree that any new climate target will require credible strategies, to ensure EU competitiveness and avoid carbon leakage. We also need to urgently alleviate administrative burdens in EU, which suffocate growth, scanning all EU rules and eliminating burdens, whilst not backtracking on our ambitions. We support the Commission’s proposals and the need to quickly make simplification real, especially on CSRD and CSDDD. We call for further simplification on EU regulations. We will also accelerate on investment, research, innovation, partnerships and scale effects in key sectors where the EU must retain a competitive edge, such as AI, quantum computing, energy and cleantechs, biotechs, space, semiconductors and defence. We will examine European preference in public procurement, particularly for low carbon products. We will also work on EU competition rules to allow for the creation of global European champions in key sectors. We need public and private investments, particularly in infrastructure. We share the urgent priority of a true Capital Markets Union to channel our savings to European businesses for our green and digital transitions and defence, with an improved level-playing field with our competitors, a renewed EU securitisation market and a European savings product. We will jointly work on a modernized next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, addressing our challenges and advancing on new own resources. We agree, as we face harsher global competition, to promote a new sustainable EU trade agenda, to diversify and derisk our partnerships and value chains, fostering EU competitiveness and ensuring effective safeguards on agriculture and strategic sectors in line with our continued commitment to open, fair and rules-based trade. This must not be mistaken for naivety. Mutually beneficial economic relations require a true level playing field. We will explore ways to create a mutually beneficial trade and investment agenda with the United States. At the same time, no one should doubt our resolve to fully safeguard EU interests and ensure strong responses to adverse actions affecting the EU. We support the Commission to use its toolkit in a swift and robust manner where necessary to protect European interests. We will also promote an effective EU economic security policy. Regarding China, we will coordinate our strategic security assessments and a common approach, in particular on trade and economic security, while pursuing engagement on global stability, climate change, and other areas of common interest. We also wish to seize the moment to coordinate on our national economic and social reform agendas, in particular on labour and taxation policies. We will set up a dialogue platform between French and German social partners and between economic experts. Our leadership is also needed on migration. We will ensure full, speedy and uniform implementation of the European Pact on Asylum and Migration in France and Germany, and deliver on the EU regulation on returns. Our aim is a more strategic steer of the Schengen area and a close coordination on internal borders controls, to ensure its efficient and smooth functioning. Finally, we need reforms for a stable Europe. Internally, to promote democracy, the rule of law and the EU’s ability to act. Externally, to prepare for enlargement and to master the challenges of geopolitics, also building on the European Political Community. 75 years after Robert Schuman’s declaration of 9 May 1950, we are proud of what Europeans have achieved. We will strive towards these “concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity” every day – jointly, France and Germany, for a more sovereign European Union promoting its interests.