A revival under the moniker 'Merzcron': The Franco-German core of the EU rekindles its power
A New Era for European Unity
For decades, the joined hands of French and German leaders have symbolized the spirit of European unity. Most famously, this was seen in 1984 when François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl stood together at Verdun, a symbol of reconciliation. More recently, the handshake between Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron outside the Elysee Palace was more than just a photo-op — it was a clear sign that Europe's most important alliance was back on track.
Since Merz's election, the Franco-German engine has roared back to life, giving birth to a new duo, Merzcron. Over the past few months, they have met several times, most recently with other NATO leaders at The Hague and again at the European Council meeting in Brussels. Their shared agenda: to drive the European Union's response on security, Ukraine, and the uncertainties of the Trump era, and to shape Europe's role on the global stage.
Before the NATO summit, Macron and Merz laid out their vision in an opinion piece in the Financial Times. They stressed the importance of boosting defense spending, aiming to reach 3.5% of GDP in core military investments and deepening cooperation between NATO and the EU. They called for a stronger, more sovereign Europe that no longer relies on others for its security. They pledged to ensure Ukraine's prosperity, robustness, and security, and warned that European stability for decades to come hangs in the balance.
It's clear that the Merzcron partnership is evolving into something equally influential as the former Merkozy alliance. The European Council summit in Brussels was a demonstration of the strength of this union, despite some differences on certain issues.
CNN spoke to two stalwarts of the Franco-German partnership — former French President Francois Hollande and Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German deputy secretary of state once described as Europe's most connected former diplomat — to assess its significance for Europe and the world.
Friends in High Places
Under Olaf Scholz, the Berlin-Paris axis became strained. Both Hollande and Ischinger noted this strain, with Stefan Seidendorf, director at the Franco-German Institute in Ludwigsburg, Germany, saying that Scholz spent too much time doing "domestic homework" and never fully focused on Europe. As a result, the three-way coalition he headed was plagued by infighting on both domestic and European issues and eventually collapsed.
However, there were also interpersonal issues at play. Macron found it difficult to get along with Scholz, a northern German who was seen as unemotional and reserved, while Scholz struggled to adapt to Macron's flamboyant, Jupiterian style.
Despite their differences, Macron and Merz's friendship turned out to be a success. Both leaders "love interaction" and are open to difficult questions. Their shared character traits make them a formidable team.
United over Ukraine
The clearest display of Merzcron in action has been around support for Ukraine. Hollande told CNN the duo had already been effective on the issue, with their recent trip to Kyiv, alongside British and Polish leaders Keir Starmer and Donald Tusk, being a symbol of a new kind of united collaboration.
France has long been more hawkish in its support for Ukraine than Germany. However, Hollande noted a shift in Merz's position, including on the delivery of missiles capable of reaching Russian territory. Since taking office, Merz has already welcomed Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to Berlin and unveiled a $5 billion package for Ukraine, including joint cooperation in the development of long-range missiles capable of hitting deep into Russia.
European Security
US President Donald Trump's return to the White House has forced a new alignment between the European powerhouses, particularly on the issue of Europe's security. Hollande explained that it forced France and Germany to work together diplomatically and militarily, whereas until then, their main alignment had been on monetary issues.
Merz managed to push through the reform of Germany's constitutional debt brake to unlock over half a trillion dollars in defense spending. He has also committed to creating Europe's largest army. This represents a major shift for Germany, and one that France appears to support.
In summary, the Merzcron partnership is firing on all cylinders, and if it keeps its momentum, it could pull the rest of Europe into gear. The Franco-German alliance is once again at the heart of European politics, working to ensure the continent's security and stability amidst a world of uncertainty.
- The Franco-German partnership, now represented by Merzcron, has been instrumental in shaping Europe's role on the global stage, particularly in areas of security, Ukraine, and responding to the uncertainties of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, as seen in their joint agenda.
- In a change from previous German leadership, Friedrich Merz has taken a more decisive approach to finance, boosting defense spending and committing to creating Europe's largest army, which aligns with France's position.
- The Merzcron partnership, reminiscent of the former Merkozy alliance, has shown its influence in the world of business and politics, forging alliances with other NATO leaders and addressing migration, engineering a $5 billion package for Ukraine.
- The evolution of the Franco-German alliance is not limited to Europe; it has significant implications for the wider world, particularly in the context of general-news events such as war-and-conflicts, migration, and policy-and-legislation.
