The Franco-German “reset” launched with Friedrich Merz’s appointment as Chancellor in May 2025 and given concrete form at the Franco-German Council of Ministers (FGCM) in Toulon in August 2025 was intended to address the structural challenges affecting the bilateral relationship. Yet it is clear that these ambitions have only been partially translated into concrete action. Since the beginning of 2026, Franco-German relations have entered a phase in which short-term challenges have combined with deeper divergences over priorities, policy approaches, and strategic culture.
Against the backdrop of profound geopolitical upheavals, the next meeting of the Franco-German Council of Ministers (FGCM) should not be regarded as merely another exercise in bilateral ritual. Instead, it should serve as a streamlined decision-making forum focused on a limited number of strategic priorities, supported by operational objectives, effective monitoring mechanisms, and an explicit political commitment to addressing disagreements rather than postponing them.
About the Author:
Paul Maurice est intitulé du poste Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri