Toulon/Berlin/Paris - Germany and France have sent a strong signal against the growing threat of disinformation. At the 25th Franco-German Ministerial Council in Toulon in the south of France, representatives from both countries signed a declaration of intent that lays the foundation for a new media alliance. The aim is to strengthen independent reporting and give European media more weight in global competition.
Media as a democratic shield
Disinformation is no longer considered a marginal problem. It threatens democratic processes, weakens trust in institutions and divides societies. "With this alliance, we are making a clear commitment to a strong European voice in the world," explained the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Wolfram Weimer. His French counterpart Rachida Dati emphasised that free and independent media are the best defence against manipulation.
Two pillars of cooperation
The alliance is based on two central projects:
"Information shield" - closer co-operation between Deutsche Welle and France Médias Monde. Joint research and cross-national teams are intended to strengthen resilience to orchestrated misinformation.
ARTE goes Europe - The Franco-German cultural broadcaster is to be expanded into a genuine pan-European player. The aim is to offer content not only in German and French in future, but also increasingly in other European languages.
A signal beyond borders
In addition to the two media ministers, the signatories included the Saarland Minister President Anke Rehlingerthe French Member of Parliament Benjamin Haddadthe member of the Bundestag Gunther Krichbaum and other representatives of civil society. For them, one thing is certain: Europe must assert itself in the information space just as much as in the economy and security policy.
Why this is important
The alliance comes at a time when election campaigns are increasingly being influenced by digital campaigns, when platforms such as TikTok and X are shaping the news economy and state-controlled propaganda is specifically attacking European democracies. France and Germany want to counter this development with a joint strategy - a step that is also likely to have a signalling effect for the EU as a whole.
Outlook
The alliance is still a political promise. Whether it will have an impact depends on how quickly concrete projects are implemented and whether other European partners join in. But one thing is clear: Toulon marks the start of a new chapter in Franco-German media cooperation - and perhaps also a milestone in the fight for an informed public.