Macron commemorates Europe's murdered Jews before keynote speech on the future of Europe

Ahead of an eagerly awaited keynote speech on the future of Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron commemorated the Jews of Europe murdered by Nazi Germany on the second day of his state visit. Together with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he visited the Holocaust memorial near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Monday.

Both presidents laid wreaths with flowers in the colors of their national flags. The flowers in the French president's wreath were white roses, red gerberas and blue delphiniums of the "Völkerfrieden" variety. They were accompanied by their wives Brigitte Macron and Elke Büdenbender. The couple walked a short distance into the memorial, which consists of large concrete blocks, and then visited the accompanying museum.

In the Holocaust, around six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis in Europe. Most of them died in concentration and extermination camps.

In the French embassy, Macron then honored the persistent persecutors of Nazi criminals, Beate and Serge Klarsfeld, with high French awards. With their decades of dedication, the Klarsfelds had ensured that those responsible for the persecution of the Jews were convicted and that the victims were given a face and a lasting memory, said Macron. The German Beate Klarsfeld (85) was appointed Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor, the Frenchman Serge Klarsfeld (88) received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor.

Macron arrived in Berlin with his wife Brigitte on Sunday afternoon. It is the first state visit by a French president to Germany in 24 years. From Berlin, Macron traveled on to Dresden, where he and his wife were welcomed by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) at Moritzburg Castle on Monday afternoon. In the Saxon state capital, the French President plans to visit the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems, where an expert discussion on artificial intelligence and the European microchip industry is planned.

In the evening, Macron wanted to give a speech on European policy in front of Dresden's Frauenkirche. Thousands of young people from Saxony, Poland, the Czech Republic and France are expected to attend. Just a month ago, the President had called for a jolt in Europe for more independence, economic strength and security in a keynote speech. In the face of military threats, competition from the USA and China and a questioning of democracy, Europe must expand its sovereignty, defend its values and protect its interests and markets. "Europe can die," warned the President.