On 22 January 2019, in Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), the Treaty between the French Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany on Franco-German Cooperation and Integration was signed. The signatories were President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Angela Merkel; the copy deposited with the National Assembly also bears Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas. Authentic languages: French and German, in duplicate. The ceremony took place in the coronation hall of the town hall, on Franco-German Day, the 56th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. Article 27: it complements the treaty of 22 January 1963, within the meaning of paragraph 4 of that treaty’s final provisions. Registered by Germany on 2 June 2020 (UNTS I-56239).

Chapter 1, Articles 1–2: deeper European policy cooperation, CFSP, the economic and monetary union, completion of the single market; consultation before major European deadlines, common positions and coordinated transposition. Chapter 2, Article 3: foreign, defence, security and development policy, with joint action wherever possible. Article 4(1): by virtue of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and Article 42(7) TEU, aid and assistance by all means at their disposal, including armed force, in the event of armed aggression against their territories; the territorial scope of that sentence is that of Article 42(7) TEU. Article 4(4): a Franco-German Defence and Security Council. This is not an operations handbook.

Article 5: exchanges between foreign ministries, missions, Security Council teams, NATO and the EU. Article 6: cooperation against terrorism and organised crime, judicial, intelligence and police work; a joint unit for stabilisation operations in third countries, without describing procedures here. Article 8(1): coordination at the United Nations, within the concertation of EU members sitting on the Security Council. Article 8(2): Germany’s admission as a permanent member of the Security Council is a priority of Franco-German diplomacy — not a cession of the French seat.

Chapter 3, Articles 9–12: a shared cultural and media space, the Franco-German Youth Office, integrated cultural institutes, closer education systems, the Franco-German University, and a Citizens’ Fund for initiatives and town twinning. Chapter 4, Articles 13–17: cross-border cooperation, eurodistricts, a Cross-Border Cooperation Committee, bilingualism, interconnection of networks; legal derogations only if no other means exist, with legislation adopted by the two States.

Chapter 5, Articles 18–22: the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, energy transition, a Franco-German economic area with the Franco-German Economic and Financial Council, a council of ten independent experts, research and digital transformation, and a Forum for the Future. Chapter 6, Articles 23–26: government meetings at least once a year, a multi-year programme after entry into force, a member of one government attending the other’s cabinet at least once a quarter, and a first review of structures within six months of application.

Article 28: diplomatic notification of the completion of national procedures; the Treaty enters into force on the date of receipt of the last notification. That date was 22 January 2020. The Treaty does not cede Alsace; contrary claims during the ratification campaign were rejected by the Élysée.

Aachen Town Hall, the building in which the treaty was signed, the coronation hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

For context: Aachen Treaty. The text: Treaty on Franco-German Cooperation and Integration.