Germany’s Chancellor Merz on the collapse of FCAS jet project: Macron and I did not make the question of a German-French fighter aircraft easy for ourselves. For months, we made several attempts together to bring the companies involved to an agreement. After a mediation process that we initiated and that was carried out, Macron and I ultimately reached a conclusion. We came to the shared assessment that the companies could not find common ground on the construction of a joint fighter aircraft. We acknowledge this reality. Therefore, Macron and I agreed last Friday not to continue pursuing the construction of a common fighter aircraft. But, ladies and gentlemen, while this removes a long-standing blockage, it also opens new possibilities for industry to advance the development of modern fighter aircraft through other paths. The actual core of FCAS will continue as a European 'System of Systems'—a German-French defense-industrial flagship project that we want to realize together. Our defense ministers will now develop proposals on how to implement this before the next German-French government meeting in Germany in July.