Reform discussed at first official meeting of chancellor and new French president
yesterday by: Stefan Wagstyl in Berlin
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron on Monday promised to work together to deepen EU integration and reinforce the eurozone as the new French president visited the German chancellor in Berlin the day after his inauguration.
They pledged to co-operate on a “road map” to deliver benefits to EU citizens, including cutting unemployment, boosting investment, improving foreign policy co-ordination and “reciprocity” in trade relations with non-EU partners, such as the US and China.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Macron, Ms Merkel said they would move swiftly, with a joint Franco-German government meeting to be held in July. She added: “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.”
In an indication of her hopes of achieving significant reforms with her new French partner, the German chancellor said that the EU should not be afraid of treaty changes when so much else in the world was changing. “A European Union that behaves this way would be vulnerable from every corner of the world.”
But she also signalled that such reforms would not come immediately, saying: “I would be ready to do this, but first we will work on what we want to reform.” Janan Ganesh Macron’s grand Franco-German bargain A well-led and united EU leadership will make life harder for Britain as it leaves
Mr Macron, visiting Berlin the day after his inauguration, said that for France, too, treaty change was no longer “taboo”. He spoke positively of “a historic moment for Europe” and said: “We need more pragmatism, less bureaucracy and a Europe that protects our citizens.”
The two leaders seemed enthused by the crowds of onlookers who welcomed the French president on his first official trip. Both were also celebrating election victories — Mr Macron in the presidential poll and Ms Merkel in a key regional vote in North Rhine-Westphalia. Ms Merkel quoted German author Hermann Hesse on “the magic of beginnings”.
Ms Merkel appeared to support Mr Macron’s recent calls for better protection for workers from globalisation, which were seen by some critics as demands for protectionist EU trade policies.
Asked during the press conference if she was worried that a push from Mr Macron for a “Buy European Act” could undermine free and open trade, the chancellor said: “In trade relations, for example, I see this element of reciprocity. This is something I can very well imagine.”
She added that the German government had already asked Brussels to look into protecting foreign investments in strategic areas on an EU level. German officials have been concerned about the scale of Chinese investment in Germany coming at a time when EU investors face tight limits in China.
The EU said this month that it would approach the US and China about tighter trade rules, with tougher anti-dumping regulations.
Mr Macron said he wanted the EU “to be less naive” about trade policy otherwise it could not expect workers to accept globalisation.