Przyjaciele czy rywale? Współpraca francusko-niemiecka w okresie prezydentury Emmanuela Macrona

French-German cooperation has become a natural part of the EU political landscape, although its quality and intensity still depend on current interests and the personalities of leaders on both sides of the Rhine. The paper shows that behind the facade of strongly institutionalised ties within a seemingly well-matched partnership, this cooperation is not free from tensions, and differences in approaches to budgetary policy, defence and energy frequently lead to disputes. The key to understanding the vectors of cooperation and the sources of friction along the French-German axis is the assumption that relations between France and Germany oscillate between strategic partnership and realistic calculations of national interests – that is, transactional behaviour aimed at achieving a certain balance of benefits.

This paper aims to review Franco-German relations during Emmanuel Macron’s presidency by revealing their complexity and attempting to answer why – despite tensions – their interdependence provides mutual benefits to both France and Germany. The analysis attempts to gain a deeper understanding of the complex geometry of interdependence and the interplay of interests between France and Germany, which continually seek the best possible outcome: a political amalgam of their sovereignty and shared benefits.