european unity. i am please ask you has of emphasize this in the sauce book dot on the, in the minds of this old fighter to be glad not of continuing to patient your company with the past common mission, europe and the commission, the old. so was the process of membership and become a tradition of to the european union and then further more fun to force legal display in the rational you're in country fees are important questions which we will be discussing with you and my colleagues in the european council at the moment in year of supporting and funding this ukraine, we are supporting the ukraine with our human is terry and financial list of the bus moved to support the victim being to do everything clear voice fast. the role in my personal children, tied over to other countries for me, will be discussing our investments into ukraine and therefore of course the german french and project will be discussed and on the noisy we will be also discussing the nato alliance and military adjustments. according to the security situation, do you know clearly security does not just the mattress, only the new to relate to the for the international for noise, but in the sense security thing, we have to also shuffle, drifting, take the design of govern thing that we can understand that we are facing more urgent task regarding renewable energy and the independence from fossil energy. i am very pleased and thank you for having the european commission during this difficult times and the change decision from put another point on the agenda. we've would like to come to very quick a grievance, my divorce, our situation in the you and people can face and therefore we would like to after the elections, less stiff elections, possibly in june. we would like to have a german french ministerial council meeting said, ye shall here. a man. well, you have the verse and thank you very much. chancellor issue would love to work with with this invitation to berlin, depress, montana, soon very happy to visit you. meet you again. this is my 1st international lady to travel don't falling the beginning of my 2nd mandate the day before yesterday. it is clear for me buttons this he 1st journey aqua monk marked the strength and the important friendship. franco german friendship forced upon you the palace more. this was even dearer to me. oh, said johnny, because we've but as to the 1st journey abroad, this trip abroad, any commander in europe, in a fashion to celebrate this political project was unique. he sits in the world which until the france and germany contributed to shave together with out to the countries usually piecemeal appalling conflicts. and i wish that the friendship of our 2 countries may make it possible in the weeks, months and years ahead. you can continue to build great things to rent, because you need him gather. we bring about the ambition for a stronger, more sovereign, more democratic williams of europe above the challenges of security, which we have to rise to get new. we, on summit know the slee collage cor, turning points. this transformation of our in column is in societies which imply also the mobilization of our country. in europe at the island, we have a lot of worley versus vol bilaterally school cydonia as an interval, and we wish to continue to develop into pneumonia economy, academics, shantee fee, in order to from you reinforce our, you cannot make academic scientific ties. our best coordination wiggle in the field, a default to let's move, finish. what policy, the foreign policy defense for the city of to think germany has made freely structural choices, which i welcome here. i'd like to reinforce dani bilateral corporation between our countries in order to office in the coming months at the franco, germany counts of ministers to reinforce and strengthen all these questions of friendship and specific projects between our countries log in again on c panel. now, the geopolitical situation in europe and war from being launched by russia in ukraine, which jo to day not affects us all deeply, all of our compatriots, our europe, and oldest of this again, young and has led us to act together to try it. first of all, try and stop this war as well, and then to do through everything since the month of february wanted to try and obtain a seats far raina thompson voids the co progression of the conflicts has sanction russia. the not this is that a challenge? our challenge, the fact that of our europe, of our country is of our generation to face up to stop this treadmill, turn to war to europe. but to do everything we can to protect democracy, to be alongside ukraine, to protect our people, since of student who called an against the excesses of warm fit. we did, we continued to coordinate us and refill closely with each other on this subjects on ukraine. together we've made important decisions over the past weeks and we are continuing so indeed more to the pond on the post carry out real sanctions on this subjects we have important decisions on the european level to make about over the next few days. we'll talk about this to night. we need a upstream and united decision based on solidarity, which is absolutely essential. the same way with continues to be a long slide. you crane as we have been in the past weeks and financially, militarily, and him in a humanitarian waves. we are committed to this school, denise, this sealed, to put more def, has to have a bichon coordinator to respond or sit in terms of policy. franklin, more reinforcing or defend was at home on a funding what we have a franco german hackensack says it will be important. decisions have to be made at the end of the month of may at the exceptional european council include in the limit light of their strategic come person launched a few weeks ago. we will have decisions that have made any as the chancellor has just reminded us as far as energy is concerned field, we also have to equivalent reduce our dependence on russian fossil fuels, which is coherent with our ecological strategy. he put to this a lot more quickly, a local, stronger for please this if you want him to pre as 30 long preventing up in a paula in. sure. and i said letting it, how and the citizens have. and the fair price is we've started doing this a few weeks ago to accelerate this agenda to get me out of our dependency on russian fossil fuels. and to improve and protect our economies in a direct and indirect way with a common agenda. and as will be this strategy, this european strategy yasandra, she'll not touch on that committee. complaint group is one that where we are continuing to work on our climate agenda for the next few weeks, each on the property on the policy of investment, which will be undertaking functional and our neighborhood to show city policies. in particular, situation in the western mothers, boykin's as the chart says, just reminded us of who. that is, why in the month of june we will have a summons or the western balkans which will take place just before our europeans the most. some it will have it close, franco. german work it in order to look at this through situation and to work together in order for us will regulate the situation. the differences that remain until clarify with the number of countries of western boykin's, the european agenda, which is there's us no dispute. broadly on this morning, i made a few proposals from france when we the disgust them. and we spoke about him a few times already, but i'd also like to say that together we share the conviction of the western balkans that we have to emphasize. we need to re think european political space european political project. this was spoken about this morning or belt to build and build peace. the see if you don't want to go to europe is seen and beyond all europe. there are clearly important social, international questions. and these months are important, where germany is ensuring the presidency of the free 7 am to france to the european council. i welcome our perfect coordination, but this regard it, we are mon, coordinating, beyond the europeans to be perfectly commendable, committed together with all our fellow allies and powers of the g 7 faced with the war in ukraine where a corporal carrying out little coordination from an energy point of view, as well as to have a good response in terms of world food security, which is put in danger by the russian war and ukraine, germany, france of launched and initiative would really much in this field. monday for our president says to bring forward the food projects on a world level or so pursuing our cooperation on gives you an international subjects, including relations with china, will have the opportunity to speak with the president of china in the next few hours he gets you as well as the quest situation of the sa hell, where we have a strong involvement both of us. so that in a few words is what i wanted to say about our bilateral relations, about our common work in europe. and the big subjects that have been covered to the source, do that because there is a history of friendship, and that is the meaning of my presence here in berlin at the chancery today. so thank you for this invitation, this an honor on the 9th of may to be present here along side you we've also had, he said that he knew there was a little kill surprise booley did you, could you typically he can write to president solidity on you spoke about the beginning of european and policy, it took over the european values, jackie taylor in your p n, a scholarly battle call, and it would perhaps united kingdom, which has left the european union with precision. could also be in this group of countries to be concerned. can you be clear on this idea about this confederation who the city d. e, as the mr. lead time proposes horse. what do you think of this idea in? can you imagine that in the near future, matthew mccool that you be able to visit mister zalinski and give you a new fit? thank you very much. i did say was yoga feature. this comes from the, i'm here know a geographical idea. rosa and a sampler. we are a continent, a go for on coffee table a more let demo cause he on the hot been a still be in order not soon on will really pretty strengthen democracy, not to the study when need to have the good political and jr political forms for stability, autism. oh, up until now we've respond to this question through a large musicians the front, but the degree of integration and best of rapprochement. all of our european standards means that these prospects for senior data such as ukraine and several others found it, didn't it? nickel unity could was not attainable until the for a few years on presidio and tax it. and so i say to the ukrainians he took, we have to have an accelerated process to 7 to school come to in terms of that being a candidate for god. but we all know that given our standards is when you would need many years or even decades through his foreigners, ukraine to really exceed him to the european union. and so what we, once we do not want despair from them to develop good agency. so because of their geographical proximity in the fact they attached to the same values as us. i emphasize this to day that ukraine is taking all risks emotionally. therefore we have to not build really a new political form, not just a legal formula. none. he done, the council of bureau construed together, together with the an placido nicholas to are human rights of court, which has been shaken up by russia. is it, but we have to find a political form that makes it sombre, possible audience from particular keep these values in europe and to have the political coordination and swap and through where this was casala doroty in terms of security, quit without doubt in the city. the same thing, but not the same thing as nato, but was gum didn't corporation and solidarity necessary. but it's your cooperation in terms of energy or can integration solidarity within europe or energy, solidarity and extreme in order to be able to move forward together. she don't with infrastructure and connections if label such as the agenda we've spoken about the western balkans and europe said that she did a lot of the movement of people and in particular young people. if this agenda does not mean that countries you don't can have, couldn't do them particular fair interest, which means they can just come into your opinion. what we have to do, did i boss human know, with it work console open taishan and development. kind of is to possibility this european political community because of that is important for asked ability and our security long side this you have states who are already have some sort of darted procedures for you of accession who are about to join you he, i think they have to go to the end that them and not to divert this. and the question is how we do those who have not yet gone along. this path is supposed fully crenza posted at including in the western borchers. albuquerque is a question also to ukraine and pacify other countries who have darted to look at questions of accession can you can't pay when i do not want misinform it. not potty, it goes to draw an exclusive line here. but we have to proceed with this political consultation to see, but in order to see the interest editor and is even noted, very well dakota, i find the means to find the one, bill, etc. and another form of a corporation with renewal countries such as the you k, which just decided it's pretty to leave our european union. i think the guts could find it as a place in this political community advocate with this regard. so i'd like to speak about on close work, 50, even with the city, and as you can as a chance, the shells eva key and we've spoken about this. this is one of the subjects that we discussed with president zalinski. the ship appears on the right to my my bank statement of but you cannot last will decide he already later on today. fortunately, edge the said, my beginning statement, it was a very interesting position with our get us challenge. fear always say, here in a seeing the integration process and the strong european union could be only a very king if there are democratic values and economic aspects which should play a role and on the continent regarding the aspirations of democracy and freedom day would like to cooperate with us, but i think at the same time would like to be aligned with the european union and finding ways for this. it is necessary, therefore i am very pleased about the proposal which here m l. every thing now, however, nothing substance to continue what we have started there, such as the f mission processes for those who have already complained who have already applied. and for those who have already made their courageous positions and that should be rewarded and such as on the example of north of macedonia. they're very, very, a courageous politicians who really there to enable something and therefore their courage should not be disappointed. we should find vase for this. you don't have a conflict with either. or you've been now watching a news conference in berlin between s e. german chancellor, olaf shows, and the visiting french president emanuel my colon. this is my cause for his trip abroad since his re election, all of shawls describing france as an indispensable european partner and thanking my call for being are currently the president of the european commission during what olaf shoals described as a difficult time. ah, and he also said, of course, at this 1st trip for my call marks, the importance of the franco german friendship, the french president saying that he will continue to work with germany to coordinate when it comes to the war in ukraine. a lot of the discussion, they're focusing on the conflict in ukraine, but also on a number of other issues. lettering in a. tasha butler who is in paris or is natasha the french president. again, they are reiterating his proposal of a new political community that would include non e u members such as ukraine. yes and i know my call was speaking earlier today addressing the parliament in strasburg, in his speech in that because france as of rotating presidency of the european union. and it was in that context of macro was making this speech. and he was talking about how the you needs to be overhauled, reformed, and re re thought if you like. and one of the things that he proposed was perhaps talking about that you becoming more of a community because it takes so long for a prospective members to become part of the you paths that could be are the ways that a country such as ukraine could before they perhaps receive full membership one day can become aligned with the you. he talks on another of other things. in his speech in strasbourg, including the need to bolster the use, you saw her to take in terms of defense and energy. and that is something that we heard of in his press conference with the german chancellor, bartholet schultz. i am out on my car talking about the important i was trying to reduce the european union's dependency on russian energy exports. we know those ongoing conversations at the moment, very important conversation. so vessels in the context of the war in ukraine, all i shall say towards the beginning of that press conference. he said he has just been battling a coven pandemic that nobody could have imagined yet. no one could offend, imagined that the european union would then be dealing with a war on his daughter. natasha. thank you for that, natasha. but alive there in paris. well, let's discuss this franco german relationship a bit more now with the old rick brooker who's a political analyst and professor in european studies at stanford university. berlin, thank you very much for being with us. my crawl making his 1st trip since his re election to germany. we, we know about france says the special relationship with germany, of course. but he mccall had a very special bond with the previous chancellor angler merkel. is that likely to continue with this new german chancellor, olaf shows. how would you describe this relationship? well, what be hurt from all of shaw's who's considered to be a pretty grey person and not very emotional. was right from the beginning to highlight that his friend and 1st name base in monterey who is coming as the 1st visit to germany. so symbolically speaking, they both tried to show how close the relationship has always been and will continue to be. and everything in this press conference gives a strong impression of this is all about some bollocks, right? but when it comes to the war in ukraine, are they on the same page, there is been criticism, of course, of germany foreign policy that been some reluctance from the germans to impose more sanctions on russia. are they on the same page when it comes to how to deal with this current crisis? well, we have to distinguish between are they on the same page? has the west has to be united and actual 900 and agrees on packages of sanctions likes the cx one that has just been confirmed. this goes without saying yes they are. on the other hand, everyone is affected by the different sanctions in different ways, and they are of course, differences in timing and strategy and what should be done next. and i think it makes perfect sense if a country like hungary, for example, is more dependent on energy that they express concerns and then they get a more flexible approach. and the same goes for problems in germany. we also heard the french president in the news conference talk once again about being in favor of a new political community for europe. that would include non e u members including ukraine and the united kingdom, which left the e. you how feasible is that proposal and what would the germans support something like that because we had a question being asked about it to the, to the chancellor there. but he was, he was a bit vague about how germany feels about that proposal. well that was actually the only interesting content point that i heard in the press conference because everything else was more like as it believe, merge, gather in something like a sexual ceremony in which they renew their believe and express how committed they are in favor of european integration when it comes to this particular political integration proposal, it highlights the differences between the political culture and fries and the political culture in germany. my call when he was elected president in the 1st term coined initiatives and came up with ideas basically on a weekly bass while germans are much more a technocrats and even institutions and procedures. and we learned in the last 20 years how difficult it is to reform the european union. i personally strongly support the idea of being more flexible with a definition of what it actually means to be a member of the european union. because if we strictly believe in what was defined in 93 as the so called copenhagen criteria, what a country has to fulfill to become a member that in countries like ukraine will wait forever. and if it is of such importance for ukraine to send a signal to their people that they belong to the family of european nations as transported that. and they also should see something like materialization of this commitment. and therefore, rethinking what it means to be a european union member and think in concentric circles or more in a different shaded membership. makes perfect sense to me apparently also to my call, whether the legal concerns in the strategic groups and the different german ministries come to the same conclusion. i don't know what about other european countries briefly on this idea of the european confederation that would include other other countries that have been access the e u, would they be on board with what we've seen? of course, europe come closer together over this issue. the crisis in ukraine, but would they go as far as, you know, creating a new block? so in a way that my phone is going for, well, if there's anything, then this is a window of opportunity in which everyone is not just looking from its own perspective, but from what could be done to support ukraine. so yes, i see a majority of countries supporting a more flexible approach, and it's clearly a strong support coming from central and eastern european countries. thank you so much. oh reg broker for talking to us about this. we really appreciate your time. thanks for having me. and we will end this hour of use on that, as always spent more on our website to add al jazeera dot com, the very latest on all of our top stories on there, including of course, the war in ukraine. i'll be back in just a few minutes after this very short break with more of the dazed use, including the latest on that to use conference. we've just heard there in berlin, and the latest developments on the ground in ukraine to stay with us here on out here for back in just a few minutes. ah, mm hm. and on may, 15th lebanon will hold this 1st parliamentary elections since the country went in for economic collapse in 2090 and political and security pensions are running high with many lebanese desperately wanting change for, and new leadership. but well, they're both to be enough to change the status quo. special coverage on l 0. trust in authority is up in all time low. you want hench hateful distrust. this is a battle about what the truth actually is. al jazeera investigative unit pulls back the curtain and reveals how fear, suspicion and conspiracy theories have become the 2 of the powerful were in a dangerous territory and that dangerous territory by this date. what happens now that we literally diverge, that may well be how democracy does the truth illusion coming soon on a, just a short films at home. and inspiration, personal stories of people who are keeping the spirit of freedom alive by courageously defending their rights to the hud. oh, really. out there a select bracing longer hours and shorter deadlines. south korean delivery drivers are literally being worked to death. one 0 one east explores the dock side of consumer convenience and south korea on al jazeera. ah. ready precious present leads victory day ceremonies, remembering the soviet victory of nazi germany while defending the war he launched against ukraine. president lensky accuses moscow of imitating the level of the boxes while remembering the millions of ukrainians who died in world war 2. ah, watching al jazeera live from bill, how with me full battle, also coming up. sure lank as prime minister resigns our.