Macron congratulates Merz ahead of first meeting on Wednesday

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his Tuesday election to Germany's top political job.

"It is up to us to make the Franco-German engine and reflex stronger than ever," Macron said in a post on X.

"It is up to us to accelerate our European agenda for sovereignty, security and competitiveness - for the French, for the Germans and for all Europeans," he added.

Macron said he and Merz will work towards this on Wednesday at their meeting in Paris.

The new chancellor is expected to make his inaugural visit to the French capital, which, according to the Élysée Palace, is not a ceremonial visit but rather a first working session aimed at renewing and revitalizing Franco-German relations.

The aim is to "send a very strong and immediate signal that a renewal is taking place in Franco-German relations, both bilaterally and in terms of providing new momentum for Europe," Macron's office said.

The two leaders will discuss sovereignty, competitiveness and security. The agenda also includes resolving past disagreements, such as those related to energy policy.