31/08/2022
NATO has adopted a new strategic concept, which should provide guidance for the next ten years. But the Russian aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has changed everything.
Germany (Cerfa)
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was founded by an intergovernmental treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic in 1954. It has analyzed relations between the two countries for over 60 years. The Cerfa engages in a wide range of activities. It promotes the Franco-German debate and policy-oriented research through conferences and seminars that bring together experts, policy-makers, decision-makers and civil society representatives of both countries.
The Cerfa publishes regularly books reflecting on the current state of Franco-German relations and two research note series – Notes du Cerfa and Visions franco-allemandes – that target primarily French decision-makers, with the aim of elucidating political, economic and social evolutions in contemporary Germany, and closely following current developments in Franco-German relations.
The Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think-tanks, including the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Genshagen Foundation, French-German Institute (DFI), and German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).
Through its successive interactive and ad hoc cooperation programs, the Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation:
- In the year 2021, the Cerfa started a Program on Multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program aims at creating a Franco-German network bringing together young professionals interested in the topic of multilateralism in the context of their work. It consists in working sessions based on briefings and workshops with selected experts and practitioners covering a broad range of issues relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament.
Previous initiatives:
- The Franco-German Future Dialogue co-organized by the Cerfa together with the DGAP and with the support of the Bosch Foundation aimed at creating a new Franco-German generation by developing exchanges and debates between French and German young professionals and PhD students.
- The Daniel Vernet Group (formerly the Franco-German group of reflection) had been founded in the Fall of the year 2014 at the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
Éric-André MARTIN
Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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Marie KRPATA
Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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Catherine NAIKER
Assistante
Hans STARK
Counselor on Franco-German relations at Ifri
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Nele Katharina WISSMANN
Associate Research Fellow, Study Committee for Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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The Domestic Politics – Elections research axis within the Committee on Franco-German Relations at Ifri provides an analysis of the German domestic politics, its dynamics, the evolution of the party systems, and the electoral geography of the German Federal...
German-French Young Professionals Network Working on Multilateralism
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In a changing world, Germany is more than ever seen as a factor of stability in the face of increasingly numerous and frequent crises. The longevity of its political staff, the power of its economic model and the appeal of its code of values and principles are certainly not unrelated. It embodies...
11/07/2022
The German manufacturing industry at the heart of the German economic activity has been confronted in the past years with conjunctural shocks, which question its existence on the German territory: the energy transition which hinders it in the short term to resort to fossile energy from Germany...
23/06/2022
Germany, despite the reluctance of its public opinion, is committed to supporting security in the Sahel, notably through its participation in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) and recently in Niger, and in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in...
30/03/2022
With the France Strategy, Saarland set out in 2014 to become an efficient multilingual German-French region within a generation.
14/03/2022
The German government has long hesitated to take a position on the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. It has refused to question the planned commissioning of Nord Stream 2 and to supply Ukraine with weapons.
14/03/2022
When it was founded in August 1991, the Weimar Triangle was intended as a forum for trilateral consultations between the foreign ministers of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Poland on the future of Europe after the end of the Cold War.
07/03/2022
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s speech to the Bundestag on February 27, 2022, announced a new orientation in foreign policy and challenged the principles that had been the consensus in Germany for the past thirty years.
24/02/2022
The Russian-Ukrainian crisis puts to the test the cohesion of the new traffic light coalition, the authority of Chancellor Scholz and the ambition to adapt the post-Merkel German foreign policy.
10/12/2021
The grand coalition’s record on European policy is mixed. On budgetary issues, the CDU-CSU and SPD were able to implement the agreements in the coalition agreement, but on fundamental reforms of the European Union, only small steps were taken.
10/12/2021
One cannot help but wonder about Germany’s future foreign policy when one considers both the weight of the Federal Republic and the many crises we face internationally.
09
Jun
2022
from 12:30 to 14:00
- Conférences
Toward a New European Security Order? Foreign Policy Shifts in Response to Russia’s War on Ukraine Ifri Conferences
Russia’s war on Ukraine has shaken the foundations of Western foreign policy and the multilateral rules-based order. Institutions built to preserve this order – like NATO, the G7, and the EU – have had to rethink their threat assessments and postures. France, Germany, Italy, and the UK have...
08
Jun
2022
from 09:00 to 10:30
- Videoconferences
How to Implement the “Zeitenwende” in the Field of Defense? Ifri Conferences
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz announced a “Zeitenwende” (turning point), whose main goal is to adapt the German foreign and security policy to the new geostrategic context.
17
Jan
2022
from 11:30 to 13:00
- Videoconferences
What is the Liberal Agenda of the "Traffic Light" Coalition? Franco-German Perspectives Visioconférence
The end of Angela Merkel's term of office marks the beginning of a new political era in Germany. Known for its stability and the longevity of its leaders, German politics will now be dominated by three parties in a so-called "Traffic Light" coalition comprising the Social Democratic Party (SPD...
08
Dec
2021
from 11:00 to 13:00
- Videoconferences
Europe in the Indopacific – Key challenges for a mutually beneficial partnership in the region Webinar
This conference is intended to discuss the paper “The Dilemma of Middle Powers – How AUKUS Has Reshaped the Potential for E3 Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific“ and to...
23
Nov
2021
from 17:00 to 18:30
- Videoconferences
How did the coronavirus crisis accelerate the restructuration of global value chains? Webinar
Toward a reshoring of industrial activities in Europe? A study of the Technical University of Munich (TUM München) underlines the global tendency toward a reshoring of activities in the country of origin or the nearshoring in countries lying in its vicinity which would...
17
Nov
2021
from 17:00 to 18:30
- Seminars and Round-table Conferences
Germany's Energy and Climate Policies after the Parliamentary Elections
Germany's September Parliamentary elections opened the way for coalition negotiations that may last until December. Yet first hints at directions and red lines in energy and climate policy can be identified as the country must prepare for an accelerated decarbonisation.
29
Sep
2021
from 14:00 to 15:30
- Videoconferences
The Aftermath of the 2021 German Federal Election - Analysis of the Results and Implications for Europe Webinar, Heinrich Böll Stiftung Brussels - European Unionsucc
On September 26, 2021, German Federal Elections will be held, and mark the end of the Merkel era. The political equation is likely to be complicated because of the possible combinations and the difficulty for political parties to achieve a stable majority. Important choices are at stake for...
27
Apr
2021
from 08:30 to 11:30
- Seminars and Round-table Conferences
Strengthening Europe in the digital domain - Franco-German reflections on digital sovereignty Webinar
There is "no strategic autonomy without digital sovereignty", declared Charles Michel, President of the Council of the European Union in February 2021. In this logic, the European Commission calls for a more autonomous Europe in security-related areas such as digital policy and data...
23
Sep
2020
from 18:15 to 19:00
- Videoconferences
Europe Needs an Africa policy – Defining French and German Stances on Africa Webinar, Institut français Bonn, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Büro Bonn
Online Seminar - French-German Workshop for the Future
07
Sep
2020
from 10:00 to 17:00
- Videoconferences
The Africa policies of France and Germany
As demonstrated by the current negotiations over the new European Africa strategy, 2020 is a milestone for the relationship between the two continents.
03/05/2022
If the decision to replace the engine for the F-35A is implemented, countries flying F-35s will find themselves forced into unforeseen and overly complicated supply chains.
16/03/2022
Germany wants to upgrade its military with the world's most modern fighter jet. The order is worth billions. But is it a good fit?
10/12/2021
The first meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz occurred on Friday, December 10, 2021, in Paris. An important visit for both Germany and France and an opportunity to relaunch the Franco-German couple since Angela Merkel’s departure from the German...
29/11/2021
The coalition deal struck between three parties that will form Germany’s next government is very much in line with France’s own ambitions and priorities, including its vision of a more federal EU.
19/11/2021
While some argue that the next Franco-German power couple could be business as usual, there are some potential sticking points ahead.
27/09/2021
Buoyant from its best election result in 10 years, Germany's liberal FDP party looks set to play a outsized role in coalition negotiations to form the next government.
21/09/2021
After 16 years of Angela Merkel, Germany’s federal election will not only pave the way for a new government but also for a brand-new foreign policy. At least potentially.
17/09/2021
Angela Merkel has governed Germany for 16 years and proven a reliable ally both in Europe and for the world. Will her party colleague hoping to succeed her follow in her footsteps or diverge from her path in order to forge his own legacy?
16/09/2021
German Chancellor Merkel has met with French President Macron in what could be her final working visit to France. Some analysts say their cooperation should have produced more results.
01/09/2021
The Franco-German relationship is more important than ever in order to deal with international crises and to develop a common European Foreign and Security Policy.