EU fate rests on French and German leadership
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s newly re-elected Chancellor Angela Merkel have promised to prepare a “roadmap” for reforming the EU for a June EU summit.
The French president said the “clear, ambitious” plan would focus on the euro zone, but would also cover key issues such as migration and defence “to better marry responsibility and solidarity”.
The leaders of two of Europe’s biggest economies met during the German chancellor’s first foreign trip since her re-election on Wednesday, nearly six months after a general election.
Macron has been eagerly awaiting the formation of a government in Berlin to move ahead on his ambitious plans for a more closely integrated euro zone.
He is hoping for agreement on issues such as a euro zone budget and finance minister.
“For many years, Europe has expected the Franco-german couple to move forward and make proposals with the strength that they have mustered at every great stage in Europe’s history,” Macron said. “We are ready for it.”
Merkel was somewhat more reserved, noting that France and Germany “are not always of the same opinion, but we have got many things off the ground together and I have the firm will to find ways forward”.
“Germany and France must lead by example,” she said. “We want to reach agreement on issues including the permanent and sustainable stabilisation of the euro, ensuring competitiveness and a joint asylum plan.”
Pro-european leaders such as Macron are facing increasing pressure from the growth in popularity of eurosceptic parties across the continent, including in Germany, Austria and Italy.
The two leaders had suggested in December that they would present definite proposals for euro-zone reform before a European summit scheduled for March 23-24.
However, the lengthy coalition negotiations that followed the German elections in September led to that timetable being scrapped.
Macron has already received a warning shot across his bows from a group of eight smaller northern European countries including the Baltic states, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.
Macron warmly congratulated Merkel on her re-election and insisted that France was now ready to play a more active role.