The Franco-German duo has returned to action following the formation of the German coalition government and, between now and the European Council in June, will present firm proposals on the future of the European Union in areas as diverse as deepening economic and monetary union (EMU) (see EUROPE 11983), migration, trade, research and innovation.
“On economic and monetary union, and in particular the euro area, our ability to re-articulate responsibility and solidarity; on migration, defence and trade policies as well as on our research policies, our culture, education policy …, we will bring forward a clear and ambitious road map for this renewal by the month of June”, stated French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday 16 March when he hosted a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
At a time when “multilateralism is increasingly under threat”, it is essential to move forward united, said Merkel. On EMU, she argued for lasting stabilisation of the euro and improvement – through innovation – of the international competitiveness of the euro area. A solution has to be found on the reform of the Dublin asylum system between now and June at least, she added, calling for a common EU strategy for Africa.
The Franco-German proposals on the future of the EU will come less than a year from the European elections of May 2019. They form part of “a context that has seen Europe deeply shaken since Brexit and since the Italian elections where the extremes rose strongly, making clear all the consequences of both the lasting economic problems that we have not been able fully to settle and the migration challenges that we have not been able to completely resolve either”, Macron said. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)