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Macron receives an honorary doctorate – a symbol of German-French friendship
On October 3, 2025, Emmanuel Macron received an honorary doctorate from Saarland University for his contribution to European science.
Macron receives an honorary doctorate – a symbol of German-French friendship
On October 3, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Empirical Human Sciences and Economics at Saarland University. This prestigious award was presented as part of the German Unity Day celebrations in Saarbrücken. Professor Ludger Santen, the university's president, praised Macron as a "political initiator" who has laid crucial foundations for a new generation of European universities and whose contribution to European science policy is described as having a concrete impact.
His laudation paid particular attention to Macron's speech at the Sorbonne on September 26, 2017, in which he formulated visionary ideas for a new European educational area. This impulse is seen as crucial for the creation of a total of 65 university alliances with over 570 participating universities from 35 countries. Macron thus promotes cross-border cooperation between universities and different cultures.
Meaning of the honorary doctorate
Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger described the awarding of the honorary doctorate as a strong signal for Saarland-French relations. Given the history of German-French reconciliation since the 1960s, she underlined the importance of deep and sustainable intercultural cooperation.
Saarland University plans to further intensify its activities in the German-French context. These include initiatives such as the startup factory “SouthwestX” and the development of a German-French AI institute by DFKI and INRIA. The university was founded with the aim of functioning as a European institution focusing on research areas in computer science, biomed, sustainability and European cooperation.
Intercultural cooperation is key
The celebrations also recognized the successes of the German-French Youth Office (DFJW), which has given over seven million young French and Germans the opportunity to make contact since 1963. This valuable intercultural work has contributed significantly to the promotion of European identity and shows that education should be based on intercultural and social cooperation.
The importance of intercultural learning becomes particularly clear against the background of challenges and the need to take cultural differences into account. Projects and exchange programs initiated by the DFJW are proof of the advantages of binational encounters and of the permanent renewal of dialogue about shared values.
Especially in view of today's global challenges, such intergovernmental relationships and intercultural exchange are more important than ever. Edgar Morin and other voices are calling for a rethink of political approaches in order to further deepen the Franco-German relationship. It is clear that European values such as freedom and solidarity must be kept alive.
Emmanuel Macron's honorary doctorate from Saarland University therefore not only represents an individual award, but also symbolizes the ongoing desire for closer cooperation and understanding between Germany and France, which strengthens both countries in their common European identity.
Further information about Macron's honor can be found at uni-saarland.de, while reflecting on the importance of universities in Europe in the address by bundespraesident.de can be found. For further thoughts on the historical-cultural connections in Europe, the analysis can be found in deuframat.de be consulted.