French President Emmanuel Macron will begin a three-day state visit to Germany on Sunday to reaffirm the strength of bilateral relations and to attempt to overcome differences. Less than two weeks before the European elections, the visit will be marked by symbols of unity and friendship between the two largest powers in the European Union, including speeches about Europe and a visit to the Holocaust memorial.
It has been remarked in German presidential circles that "we do not often celebrate what we have achieved together" since the Franco-German reconciliation of 1963. The Élysée asserts, "We can talk a lot about the ups and downs of Franco-German relations, but there is also permanence and depth in the relationship between the two peoples, which this state visit demonstrates."
This is the first state visit by a French president to the large neighbor since Jacques Chirac's visit in 2000. The visit was originally planned for last July but was postponed due to riots in France. Ironically, Macron is returning from a quick trip to New Caledonia, the French archipelago in the Pacific that has been experiencing unrest for the past ten days.
Macron is expected to arrive with his wife Brigitte at 12:00 UTC (14:00 local time) in Berlin, where they will be welcomed by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
