Champs Elysees. File photoPARIS, Oct 26The Champs Elysees called the meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz «very constructive», noting that it led to the creation of working groups on energy, defense and innovation, Agence France-Presse reports. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Paris on Wednesday for talks with French leader Emmanuel Macron. The press conference of the heads of state following the meeting was canceled due to lack of time by Chancellor Scholz, who is in a hurry to go to Athens after Paris.Macron tried to corner Scholz, writes Die WeltAs reported at the Elysee Palace, the parties managed to agree on the creation of working groups on energy, defense and innovation. In addition, the French President and the German Chancellor discussed bilateral relations «in the spirit of close work for the medium and long term.» According to the French presidential administration. Following the talks, Scholz said that he was satisfied with the meeting with Macron, during the conversation energy and defense issues were touched upon. >EU energy ministers support joint gas purchases The meeting between the leaders of France and Germany was scheduled for October 26 amid tensions between the two European countries. Initially, a meeting of the French and German governments in Fontainebleau near Paris was planned for this date, which was then postponed to January 2023. According to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, the reason for the postponement was the busy schedule of the participants. However, German government spokesman Steffen Hebeshtreit said that the participants «need more time» due to the fact that an agreement has not yet been reached on a number of issues. According to the Welt newspaper, relations between France and Germany are at their lowest point. The publication believes that disputes between the parties can lead to the end of the idyll and a break in relations. The most controversial topics concern the marginal price of gas, Scholz's unwillingness to support Macron's idea of European sovereignty and common defense, as well as the negotiations of the French leader behind the back of his German counterpart about the construction of a gas pipeline between Barcelona and Carcassonne, also led to the conflict.
France announced a split in relations with Germany
