PARIS — Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz are trying to jump-start the Franco-German engine one final time.
After joint ministerial meetings in Germany two weeks ago, the leaders of the European Union’s two biggest economies have tasked their governments with striking a grand bargain that they say would strengthen Europe’s industrial defenses and revive the bloc’s automotive industry — key priorities for the two countries.
The pact would fuse France’s push to reserve more public procurement contracts and subsidies for European industry with Germany’s drive to rescue its ailing carmakers, whose crisis has reached an acute stage after Volkswagen warned recently that it would have to cut 100,000 jobs worldwide.
The emerging deal would see Berlin support tougher “Made in Europe” provisions sought by Paris in the EU’s landmark Industrial Accelerator Act. This would restrict which trading partners qualify for Union-equivalent “trusted partner” status in key public procurement and subsidy programs.
