‘We’re ready to change EU treaty if we have to,’ say Macron and Merkel
PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron of France and German chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to draw up a “common road map” for Europe yesterday, insisting that neither saw treaty change as “taboo”.
Mr Macron, 39, who promised to “relaunch” Europe at his inauguration on Sunday, indicated he wanted a joint budget, parliament and finance minister for the eurozone before heading to Berlin for his first foreign trip.
That sent alarm bells ringing in Germany, whose foreign minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble said that such radical EU reforms were “not realistic”. He also shot down the idea of a eurozone finance minister for the same reasons.
However, after bilateral talks, Mrs Merkel was more open, saying: “From a German perspective, it is possible to change the European treaties. This is also necessary to push things along in Europe . The whole world is changing, that is why Germany is ready to change the treaties.” She added, however, that this was not the immediate priority. “First, we need to work on what we want to change, and then if it turns out it needs a treaty change, we’re prepared to do that,” she said. Calling for a “historic reconstruction of Europe”, the pair agreed to draw up a medium-term roadmap on how to deepen EU integration and make the eurozone more resilient against crises.
“Germany will only do well in the long term if Europe does well and Europe will only do well if there is a strong France,” said Mrs Merkel.
Relieved at the arrival of a pro-european in France, where anti-eu sentiment is high, she had hailed Mr Macron’s win as carrying “the hopes of millions” in Europe, but there are fears in Germany that it could be forced to pay the lion’s share for growth.
Aware of this, Mr Macron dispelled the idea circulating in German media that he was in favour of turning national debts of eurozone countries into eurozone debt.
“I have never defended [the idea of ] Eurobonds or the mutualisation of existing debt in the eurozone,” he said, adding that he was in favour of “future investment”.
The French president mentioned common asylum policy and bilateral trade as key areas.