At their meeting in Paris today, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reiterated their shared intention to significantly intensify cooperation between France and Germany.

They agreed the following:

- The Ministers will consult one another routinely before meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and the EU General Affairs Council.

- The Ministers will plan joint trips to regions of particular interest to both countries and the European Union. Afterwards the Ministers can report on these trips to the relevant Assemblée nationale and Bundestag committees.

- The Ministers have agreed to drive forward cooperation on the early identification of crises and on crisis prevention.

- The Ministers will examine specific options for the co‑location of diplomatic missions abroad.

- With a view to the European elections, the Ministers intend to join forces in working to convey the significance of Europe to the citizens in France and Germany.

This meeting also gave both Ministers the opportunity to define the main issues which lend themselves to close cooperation between their two countries, particularly with regard to the Franco-German Council of Ministers on 19 February.