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Annual Conference of The Study Committe on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) ─ Faced with a profoundly disrupted strategic and economic environment, Franco-German cooperation is more than ever the central pillar of Europe's future. The war in Ukraine, energy and technological dependence, and uncertainty about the strength of the transatlantic ties require urgent deepening of European sovereignty, both in terms of defence and economic and industrial competitiveness.
The Franco-German Ministerial Council in Toulon in August 2025 reaffirmed France and Germany's ambition to transform their interdependencies into a real driving force for European integration.
In terms of defense, Paris and Berlin must overcome their differences to define a common strategic vision. This means overcoming differences in approach, ensuring European technological sovereignty and building a genuine European industrial and technological defense base.
On the economic front, Germany, weakened by recession and loss of competitiveness, has launched an unprecedented €500 billion plan to modernize its infrastructure and invest in future technologies. This decision could pave the way for new joint European projects and offer an opportunity for shared recovery, provided that Paris and Berlin manage to align their priorities in a context of significant domestic political instability.
Programm
9:30–9:40 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Paul Maurice, Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
9:40–10:00 a.m. | Introductory Remarks
Gudrun Lingner, Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in France and Monaco
Tristan Aureau, Director of the Centre for Analysis, Planning and Strategy (Policy Planning), Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
10:00–11:20 a.m. | France–Germany: Catalysts for a Sovereign Europe?
Roland Theis, Member of the Bundestag from Saarland, Chair of the France-Germany Friendship Group in the Bundestag
Alexandre Escorcia, Chief of Staff to the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs
Amélie Zima, Research Fellow, Head of the European and Transatlantic Security Program, Centre for Security Studies, Ifri
Moderator: Jeanette Süß, Research Fellow at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
11:20–11:30 a.m. | Break
11:30–12:50 | European Competitiveness: What Role for Germany’s Industrial Base in the Face of Geo-Economic Tensions?
Cécile Boutelet, Economic Correspondent, Le Monde, Berlin
Florian Schuster-Johnson, Head of Growth and Lab Budget, Dezernat Zukunft, Berlin
N.N.
Moderator: Marie Krpata, Research Fellow at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
12:50–1:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Paul Maurice, Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
Hybrid conference in French and German with simultaneous interpretation.
The conference will be followed by a cocktail reception.
Contact
Catherine NAIKER
Assistant to the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
Speakers
Our team
Paul MAURICE
Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
Amélie ZIMA
Research Fellow, Head of European and Transatlantic Security Program, Security Studies Center
Jeanette SÜß
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
Marie KRPATA
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
External contributor(s)
Gudrun LINGNER, Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in France and Monaco
Tristan AUREAU, Director, Center for Analysis, Forecasting and Strategy, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Roland THEIS, Member of the Bundestag from Saarland, Chair of the France-Germany Friendship Group in the Bundestag
Alexandre ESCORCIA, Chief of Staff to the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs
Cécile BOUTELET, Economic Correspondent, Le Monde, Berlin
Florian SCHUSTER-JOHNSON, Head of Growth and Lab Budget, Dezernat Zukunft, Berlin
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