“Coordination within Europe is currently the closest it’s been in a long time,” Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted. The Federal Chancellor’s conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron focussed on support for Ukraine. “We completely agree that the aim of all our efforts must be to ensure just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” Scholz said. The announced ceasefire with regard to attacks on the energy infrastructure could be a first vital step towards this goal, he continued. 

On Tuesday, the Federal Chancellor received the French President at the Chancellery before the upcoming European Council meeting. The fifth summit of European heads of state and government within just a few weeks is taking place in Brussels on Thursday. 

The key points from the statement: 

• The situation in Ukraine: The aim of all efforts had to be to ensure “just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” Scholz said, adding that Ukraine could rely on Europe’s support, and that support from the USA remained essential, too. Federal Chancellor Scholz pointed out that the ceasefire announced in the phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin could only be “a vital first step,” and that a complete ceasefire had to be the next step and had to happen as soon as possible. 
• Europe’s defence capability: Europeans wished to strengthen the European pillar of NATO and to further increase defence spending, the Federal Chancellor said. The EU Commission’s suggestions for effective European defence would be discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting, he continued, stressing that close involvement of partners outside the EU was also important. 
• Europe’s competitiveness: “Europe needs an update, a fundamental modernisation,” Scholz urged. He stated that bureaucracy had to be reduced, more private capital had to be mobilised and the EU had to be strengthened as an industrial hub. 
• Middle East: Scholz expressed his concern about the renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip. “Release the hostages at last,” he appealed to Hamas. Scholz also stressed the importance of talks about the political future of the Gaza Strip.

You can see the statement here:

Read a transcript of the press conference here (only german):