The meeting comes as both leaders seek to strengthen Franco-German ties amid growing transatlantic tensions under President Donald Trump, according to AFP.
“The most important message is that the Franco-German couple is back to work,” the French presidency said ahead of Macron’s planned dinner with Mertz.
The two leaders aim to strengthen cooperation at the heart of the European Union, particularly as Trump’s policies continue to strain US-European relations.
Paris and Berlin were key players to support Ukraine in the war with Russia and to strengthen NATO’s European defence capabilities.
However, while France has suggested the deployment of peacekeepers to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, Germany has yet to commit to such a move.
Trade tensions with the US also dominate the debate. Trump threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU goods if the agreement was not reached by August 1.
“We are currently approaching a critical stage in the tariff dispute with the US,” Meltz said Tuesday, calling for a “fair and reliable agreement with low tariff charges” to stabilize transatlantic trade.
Bilateral disagreements remain, especially in the joint fighter project involving Spain. Merz resisted France’s dominant role, but remains optimistic about reaching a consensus.
Meanwhile, Dassault CEO Eric Trapie has cited challenges in the leadership structure of the three countries, raising questions about the feasibility of the project.
MNA