France and Germany are trying to organize a Jan. 22 summit as they seek progress on difficult issues such as energy and defense, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said.

Speaking with her German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, Colonna said the two governments will meet Jan. 22 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty, which laid the foundation for the French-German partnership after World War II.

Relations between Paris and Berlin have been strained of late. A joint Franco-German cabinet meeting in late October was postponed because of major disagreements over energy and defense issues, and a meeting between President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the same month was also marred by tensions.

Paris and Berlin are currently working on a joint declaration covering various areas of political cooperation, including energy and defense, to be signed at a joint cabinet meeting.

The two sides may also agree on further subsidy and industrial policy measures, a move that may be necessary if the U.S. does not roll back controversial trade measures that the EU considers discriminatory and that risk diverting investment from Europe to the U.S.