Merkel, Macron plan for EU
FRENCH LEADER’S VICTORY BRINGS CHANCE TO REVITALISE BLOC
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday presided over a joint Cabinet meeting aimed at increasing Franco-German resolve to revive the European Union.
The meeting at the Elysee Palace, which took place as US President Donald Trump was in Paris as the guest of honour for Bastille Day events, underscores Macron’s wish “to build ambitious and concrete projects”, the French leader told regional daily Ouest-France.
Macron, 39, was elected in May promising to overhaul the 28-member bloc with a host of initiatives to deepen EU integration in the areas of defence, security and immigration.
He is keen to revive the traditional “engine” behind European integration – the post-war alliance of Paris and Berlin, which ended centuries of conflict.
But with less than three months before Germany’s legislative elections, it will be difficult for Paris and Berlin to move ahead on key issues such as the reform of the eurozone.
The French leader has proposed creating a finance minister, parliament and budget for the eurozone, which would require changes to EU treaties. “I want the eurozone to have more coherence and convergence.”
He warned Germany that it must move to correct the “dysfunctions” of the eurozone and give it “the fate it deserves”.
“France must reform its economy to give it more vigour,” he added, but Germany “must support a revival of public and private investment in Europe”.
Merkel has agreed to consider the issues, but they will have to wait until after the elections, which her centre-right Christian Democratic Union is expected to win.
The French leader is also set to press Merkel for a financial and military contribution to a joint anti-jihadist regional force called the G5 Sahel, made up of forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
The French and German governments held a joint Cabinet meeting in April, but both sides are keen to capitalise now on the momentum generated by Macron’s victory in May.
The bloc is still grappling with the fallout from Britain’s shock vote to exit the EU in a referendum in June last year. Brexit, along with perceived threats from the US under Trump, as well as from Russia, has given it a renewed sense of purpose. – AFP