Emmanuel Macron began the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 24 years with warm words for his hosts.
“French-German relations are indispensable and important for Europe,” Macron said on Sunday at the start of his three-day state visit to Germany.
He rejected suggestions that the relationship, often described as the engine of Europe, is starting to falter.
“That is not true. We are moving forward,” Macron said through a translator.
Upon landing in Berlin, Macron immediately traveled to the German capital’s government district to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and attend a democracy-themed festival.
Steinmeier greeted Macron, calling his visit “a testament to the depth of French-German friendship.”
He said that despite sometimes differing on individual policy issues, Berlin and Paris “always reach an agreement in the end.”
“If Germany and France agree, much can still be achieved in Europe,” he said.
Macron also stressed the importance of the European elections in June and called the EU a defender of democracy and common values.
