France-Germany: Overcoming Differences to Strengthen European Sovereignty
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.
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Key Takeaways
In response to current challenges, the Franco-German engine should evolve into a pragmatic steering instrument, adapted to the changing dynamics of the bilateral relationship.
Franco-German cooperation should focus on the core dimensions of European sovereignty - particularly defense and digital policy - by building on shared operational priorities and a clearer governance framework.
The Franco-German tandem should remain the driving force behind European Union reform by supporting enlargement and strengthening European sovereignty through institutional and financial reforms.
The Franco-German working method should transform the Franco-German Council of Ministers into a genuine instrument of strategic steering, based on clearly defined priorities, systematic monitoring, and measurable outcomes.
Paul Maurice is Secretary General of The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) at Ifri, where he focuses on German domestic policy, Franco-German relations within the European Union, and German foreign and security policy.
- This publication is available in French: "France-Allemagne : dépasser les différends pour renforcer la souveraineté européenne".
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Paul MAURICE
Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.
Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
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