European leaders are gearing up for legislative elections in May 2019, which many fear will turn into a battle between europhiles in favour of a closer EU and populists.
The meeting, which will take place on September 24, will focus on European subjects including the “migration crisis, the upsurge of nationalism and the upcoming European Parliament elections,” a member of Mr Wauquiez’s entourage told the French daily Le Figaro on Monday.
“It is not for nothing that Angela Merkel has agreed to the meeting,” the source said, adding that the German government was “shifting to the right” in an effort to win back voters.
A weakened Mrs Merkel has faced bitter criticism from within her own government over her open-door refugee policy, under which around one million people have entered the country since 2013.
Her conservatives bled support to the anti-immigration far-right in last year’s general election, slumping to their lowest level since 1949.
But while Mrs Merkel is a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, her relationship with the hardline conservative has been fraught since he poked fun at her boring demeanour earlier this year.
In February, Mr Wauquiez came under fire for taped comments in which he sniped at politicians, including Mrs Merkel.
He mocked the German leader for “lacking charisma” and making “dull” social media postings. He also made fun of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he said was “too politically correct”.
While the source did not give details of the meeting, it is clear that both leaders are already laying the groundwork for the May 2019 EU elections, which are shaping up to be a battle between pro-Europe parties and eurosceptic groups that want to shake up the status quo after nearly a decade of financial and immigration crises.
An analysis of national polls conducted by Reuters in July showed anti-Brussels or populist parties were likely to experience a surge in voter support, potentially winning 15 to 20 per cent of the 705 seats in the European assembly.
The ballot has implications for how the EU is governed, because it can determine who leads major institutions, including the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm.
The commission proposes EU legislation, acts as an antitrust authority, administers the bloc’s annual budget, negotiates trade accords and runs a foreign service.
An increase in the number of seats for Europe’s populists could enable them to complicate or even block the formation of a new commission.