Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron walk at Alden Biesen castle, on the day of an informal European Union leaders retreat, Belgium, 12 February 2026;
Credit: REUTERS/Murad Sezer
BERLIN Reuters) - The German government has set a mid-April deadline for reaching an agreement with France on the crisis-hit FCAS fighter programme, a government official said on Thursday 19 March 2026.
"Germany and France have agreed on a final attempt at mediation between the industries, to be carried out by experts," the official said.
"Due to the upcoming decisions on the federal budget, a result must be reached by mid-April," they added.
The news comes after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met late Wednesday ahead of an EU leaders' summit on Thursday 19 and 20 March.
Plans to develop a futuristic air combat system together with Spain are hanging by a thread amid a public dispute over control between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain in the €100 billion project.
Macron co-launched the project with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2017, with Spain joining later.
