Germany Seeks Deeper Relations with Italy
France and Germany have traditionally driven EU policymaking, but Macron is viewed as a “lame duck” whose term ends in 2027. An EU diplomat told the outlet that Berlin prefers stable partners and sees France as unstable at present.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reportedly approached Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with proposals to restructure Europe, envisioning a “multi-speed Europe.” This plan would allow a core group of countries—including Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and France—to advance policies faster while bypassing EU bureaucracy, though not all 27 members are expected to join. Italian officials privately said the accord, which emphasizes collaboration on defense, migration, and trade, signals a “new center of gravity” in the EU.
Germany and France have long disagreed over EU governance. Paris favors greater borrowing and centralization, while Berlin resists due to its export-focused economy. Merz also criticized Macron’s call to use the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument during the Greenland dispute, arguing it conflicted with German business interests.
France’s domestic instability is compounded by economic challenges: the budget deficit reached 5.8% of GDP last year, exceeding the EU target of 3%, while public debt hit €3.346 trillion ($3.6 trillion), or 114% of GDP. In January, the French government passed the 2026 budget using a constitutional provision that bypassed parliament, prompting opposition parties to signal potential no-confidence motions.
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