Overview

• Macron welcomed Merz to the French presidential summer residence, a venue previously used for only Helmut Kohl in 1985 and Angela Merkel in 2020.
• A Franco‑German Council of Ministers gathered in Toulon with ten ministers from each side to present a coordinated agenda on security, Ukraine, trade and reform convergence.
• On Ukraine, Merz said it is “evident” there will be no immediate Zelensky–Putin meeting, countering hopes tied to recent U.S. overtures.
• Industrial frictions were deferred, with Merz saying a decision on the joint future combat aircraft (SCAF) will come by the end of the year.
• Political instability in Paris over a €44 billion savings plan and early coalition tensions for Merz constrain prospects for rapid, binding outcomes.