Macron hails Scholz as Europe’s new power couple meets

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed a "convergence of views" with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday as the two men met for their first talks as leaders.

Macron and Scholz, both pro-EU centrists, are the new tandem in charge of Europe's biggest economies that have the greatest influence inside the 27-member European Union.

Scholz, a Social Democrat, heads a new coalition whose commitment to strengthening Europe's "strategic sovereignty" has raised hopes of progress in the fervently pro-EU French government.

Addressing Scholz as "dear Olaf" and using the informal "tu" pronoun in French, Macron said he had seen "a convergence of views, a desire to have our countries work together, and a firm and determined belief in Europe, which I knew already, which we will need in the months and years ahead."

The visit was "a very important moment to build solid foundations for cooperation between our countries," he added at a news conference.

Scholz made Paris his first overseas stop after taking over on Wednesday from Angela Merkel at the end of her 16 years in power.

He said the talks focused on "making Europe strong and European sovereignty."

"What is important there is that we work together," he said.

Scholz was set to continue on to Brussels for talks with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen yesterday, as well as European Council president Charles Michel ahead of a bloc summit next week.

Macron laid out an ambitious agenda Thursday for a "Europe that is powerful in the world" during France's time as the rotating president of the 27-member Council of the European Union in the first half of next year.

The 43-year-old wants to make further progress towards building up European defence capabilities and border forces, as well as devising ways of financing huge public investments in strategic industries considered vital for EU sovereignty.

Analysts say Macron's desire for more flexible budget rules in the EU, enabling governments to run larger deficits, could run into opposition from a Germany that has historically insisted on financial rigour.

Scholz said there was "not a contradiction" between wanting to finance ambitious investments to ensure growth, and solid public finances.

"For me, they are two sides of the same coin," said Scholz, who was previously German finance minister and helped push through a historic EU fund for a Covid recovery last year that saw the bloc raise money collectively for the first time.