At a time when diplomatic tensions are high for France, with Australia and the submarine affair, or with the United Kingdom and the fishery, the Franco-German relationship is proving to be particularly peaceful. On November 3, 2021, Emmanuel Macron welcomed Angela Merkel for her last visit as chancellor of his country, in Beaune. This meeting took place in Burgundy, in a “city whose historical monuments and wine culture illustrate the richness of French heritage“, said the Elysee in a press release.
“During this farewell visit, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany will receive the insignia of Grand’Croix of the Legion of Honor“by the French head of state, continues the presidency. For this meeting under the sign of emotion, the chancellor and the president were accompanied by their respective spouses, Joachim Sauer and Brigitte Macron. The latter has also done the news the next day, as part of the Unesco conference on the fight against cyberbullying.
Angela Merkel’s journey is “focused on personal exchanges on current issues of international and European politics“, said Martina Fietz, the government spokeswoman, during a regular press conference.”President Macron’s invitation is a sign of the close relations between Germany and France and reflects the particularly confident cooperation between the two leaders“, she added, reports AFP. When President Macron presented the decorations to his guest, he did not hide his emotion and she returned it to him, giving him a sincere hug like This is shown in the video published by Clément Beaune, Secretary in charge of European Affairs, a closeness reminiscent of that between François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl.