Germany & France: How resilient is the partnership?
10/20/2026Franco-German relations will be the focus of an event on 29 October 2026 at the Schelling Forum. Hélène Miard-Delacroix and Andreas Wirsching will discuss the topic.
Once again, Franco-German relations are going through a turbulent phase. But is that really so unusual? The reconciliation following 1945 – which, in this form, was unforeseen – and the joint effort to build a united Europe should not obscure the fact that relations between the neighbours on the Rhine have never been straightforward and have always remained complex. It was only by recognising their differences and complementarity that France and Germany were able to become a joint driving force for a Europe of peace and prosperity.
What is the state of the Franco-German partnership today? How are current developments affecting its reliability and continuity? How can it be reshaped in the face of current challenges?
Drawing on historical developments, Hélène Miard-Delacroix will, in her lecture, contextualise current developments and highlight where difficulties lie and where future potential can be identified. Andreas Wirsching will then offer his comments and engage in a discussion with Miard-Delacroix – and, of course, with the audience.
The speakers
Prof. Dr Hélène Miard-Delacroix is a historian and political scientist. She has held the Chair of Contemporary German History and Culture at the University of Paris-Sorbonne since 2008. Her research focuses in particular on (German) political history and the history of Franco-German relations. She is also interested in various political cultures, perceptions of Europe and the origins of nationalism.
Prof. Dr Andreas Wirsching is a contemporary historian and a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. From 2011 to 2025, he held the Chair of Modern History at LMU Munich and, during this time, headed the Institute for Contemporary History Munich–Berlin. His main areas of research include, amongst others, 20th-century German and French history, as well as European history since the 1970s.
Date and venue
The event will take place on Thursday, 29 October 2026, starting at 6.00 pm. The venue is the Schelling Forum, Klinikstraße 3, 97070 Würzburg.
Attendance is free of charge; prior registration via the booking portal is required.
The event is organised in collaboration with the Science and Technology Section and the Cultural Affairs Section of the French Embassy in the Federal Republic of Germany.
