German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will step in for French President Emmanuel Macron at the upcoming European Union summit, amidst strained relations and domestic pressures.
Germany to Represent France at EU Summit
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will represent French President Emmanuel Macron at the upcoming European Union summit in Brussels on December 19, 2024.
Macron has announced that he will not be attending the summit due to a prior commitment. He is scheduled to travel to the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Chido over the weekend. The cyclone is believed to have claimed hundreds of lives in the region.
According to established practice, Germany will represent France at the EU summit in Macron’s absence. This decision was made by Macron’s office, which stated that it is a common practice for countries to be represented by another nation in times of crisis.
The relations between Scholz and Macron have been strained in recent times due to allegations that the two key European Union countries do not always work together seamlessly. Both leaders are also facing intense domestic pressure.
Key Issues on the Agenda at the EU Summit
The upcoming summit will focus on several critical issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and irregular migration into the bloc. Top-level meetings are already underway in Brussels, with Macron initially scheduled to join a dinner of the EU-West Balkan summit.
The absence of Macron at the summit may raise concerns about France’s commitment to European unity and cooperation. However, Germany’s representation of France is seen as a testament to the strong ties between the two nations and their willingness to work together in times of need.
