A newly-strengthened treaty will strengthen Paris and Berlin’s cooperation in foreign affairs, defence, external and internal security, but also boost the EU’s defence and security capabilities. “Emmanuel Macron is selling our country and demolishing our sovereignty,” Mrs Le Pen, the head of the ultra-conservative Rassemblement national (National Rally) party, told the French news channel BFM TV. Mrs Le Pen was commenting on the young centrist’s decision to deepen a treaty of post-war reconciliation treaty signed by Paris and Berlin in 1963, in a bid to show that the EU’s two leading powers remain strong and united.
The extension to the Elysée Treaty will be signed by Mr Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming weeks in the German border town of Aachen, a symbol of European solidarity.
The treaty text, seen by Reuters, says that “both states will deepen their cooperation in foreign affairs, defence, external and internal security and development and at the same time work on strengthening the ability of Europe to act independently”.
Mr Macron’s office has said the treaty extension would help France and Germany better tackle “the challenges they will be confronted with in the 21st century”.
“[We] envisage deepening our engagement in favour of security and prosperity of our peoples in the framework of a more sovereign, united and democratic Europe,” the French presidency said.
The treaty extension also stipulates that it will be a priority of German-French diplomacy for Germany to be accepted as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Germany, a non-permanent member, has for years sought greater influence within the international body, to which its closest allies the United States, Britain and France all belong.
However, once Britain leaves the EU on March 29, France will be the bloc’s sole remaining representative on the council.
“It’s a catastrophe, it’s very serious,” Mrs Le Pen said when asked to comment on France’s call for Germany to be given a permanent seat.
In November, German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz sparked a flurry of outrage after he suggested that the French seat should become an “EU seat”.
But the proposal was quickly dismissed by France’s ambassador to the US, Gérard Araud, who said sharing the seat was legally and politically “impossible”.
While making clear that Germany and France remain committed to the EU and NATO military alliance, the pact also states that Paris and Berlin will counter efforts by some nationalist politicians in Europe to sow discord and tear the bloc apart.
In the face of new challenges from US President Donald Trump as well as eurosceptic governments in Italy, Poland and Hungary, Mrs Merkel and Mr Macron are also hoping to stop anti-EU parties from expanding their strength in the European Parliament during crunch elections in May.
The treaty also outlines closer cooperation between French and German intelligence services and police in combating terrorism and organised crime, and a commitment to moving towards economic convergence.
“Both states will deepen the integration of their economies towards a German-French economic area with common rules,” said the treaty text.
Other areas of cooperation include culture, health, innovation and transport.