More Than Just a Ticking Clock: The New Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly
A new joint initiative between the national parliaments of France and Germany hopes to deepen their relations and strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.
On March 25, the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly met in Paris for the first time. Richard Ferrand, the president of France’s National Assembly called it a “historic day.” This new institution has received little media attention, but it is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between two parliaments at the heart of the European project. If administered innovatively, it could set a precedent in the field of inter-parliamentary dialogue in Europe, showcasing how the future of cooperation can count on other champions than governments.
The Mercator European Dialogue has developed an innovative method for political convening. In this paper, the Mercator European Dialogue team offers ideas on making this joint parliamentary assembly more fit for purpose and creating spaces for constructive dialogue between policymakers.
To read the full MED publication on the opportunities of this joint assembly, click below.
Picture: © Bundestag / Sylvia Bohn
If administered innovatively, the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly could set a precedent in the field of interparliamentary dialogue, becoming a new type of champion toward future cooperation.