Germany and France are striving to reach an agreement on reform of eurozone and on issues such as European asylum policy until EU summit in June. “We really need to achieve results by June,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) in Paris at her first meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron since her re-election.
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Macron said: “We are ready” after Europe has long waited for Franco-German couple. Toger with Merkel, he wants to present to EU at June Summit “a clear and ambitious roadmap” for planned reforms. This also applies to its proposals for euro zone.
Six months ago, Macron presented a number of proposals for creation of EU and Monetary union. Among or things, it proposes a common budget for euro states and a European finance minister. The social-liberal Frenchman has long been waiting for most important EU partner Germany to respond to his thrust because of almost half-year government formation in Germany. Germany and France had already announced a joint proposal in December.
Merkel assured macron her willingness to work closely toger: “We now want to find common ways. This has always been successful in history between Germany and France, if one also works honestly and hard. ” However, Chancellor also indicated that re was no agreement on every proposal by Macron: “We are not always of an opinion from home.” It has firm will to reach agreement – “and I believe we can achieve it”.
“Don’t Let It divide”
Merkel said that Europe must act in a closed manner. Multilateral cooperation is under pressure, Europe must lead by example. “We will n be unbeatable as Europeans if we do not let ourselves be divided in our geopolitical relations,” Merkel said. This is central to trade, for example. Merkel thus indirectly took reference to US President Donald Trump and his announced protective duties on steel and aluminium. It is about stabilising euro permanently and at same time increasing competitiveness of economy.
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The Chancellor announced a separate Franco-German summit to prepare EU summit in June. In addition to asylum policy, it is also intended to address common Franco-German defence policy, among or things. “We experience that if re are different regulations in individual Member States, this will never be our common benefit.” Merkel is aiming for a more solidarity-like asylum policy in EU – in particular Eastern European EU members are currently facing efforts of Chancellor for a uniform burden-sharing.
Merkel called for protection of external borders and a common strategy for Africa, in which Germany and France would have to work even more closely toger, irrespective of steps already reached. The June Council, which is very important in asylum policy, should be defined between stages of EU summit in Brussels at end of week. EU Council President Donald Tusk dampened expectations in advance. According to AFP information, he wrote to Member States that discussions at ministerial level had so far only resulted in “a limited consensus” on key reform projects.
“We don’t just nod everything”
In meantime, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned Germany and France of single aisles in European politics. “We have freedom of travel in EU and of course new federal government can meet with French government at any time without us being re,” said Rutte mirror. “But that does not mean that we and or EU countries will find everything that reconciles German and French. We don’t just nod everything. ” So Rutte Macron’s thrust for a European finance minister is firmly opposed.
The federal finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) and French Minister of Economic Affairs Bruno Le Maire had also met in Paris before. They want to achieve first results in matters such as banking and fiscal union by June. Also new federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) was already in Paris this week. He pleaded at his inaugural trip on Wednesday to “finally take outstretched hand of Emmanuel Macron with his proposals for renewal of Europe”. The SPD sees plans of Macron with sympathy, but in parts of union re is criticism – especially on plans for a common budget for euro zone, which is to equip countries with single currency for crises.
