Macron visits Scholz, seeking to shore up French-German ties
The Hindu
Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron will meet in Hamburg on October 9 to discuss digital innovations, European response to Israel-Hamas conflict, energy price shock, nuclear power, European rearmament, and immigration. They will tour an Airbus factory and take a harbour cruise to discuss mid- and long-term topics.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will host France's President Emmanuel Macron on October 9 for talks in Hamburg, a visit overshadowed by the conflict between Palestinian militants and Israel.
The two-day meeting, which also gathers Ministers under the German-French government consultation format, had been due to focus on digital innovations including artificial intelligence.
But the long-planned event will also give Mr. Scholz and Mr. Macron a chance to huddle and coordinate a European response after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel at the weekend.
Both Germany and France have pledged their support for Israel, while warning against a regional escalation.
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On arrival in Hamburg, Mr. Macron and Mr. Scholz will tour an Airbus factory before taking a harbour cruise.
"We will take a boat along the Elbe, eat some fish sandwiches and discuss the mid- and long-term," said a French aide of the President.
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