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Merkel: Berlin and Paris want to send impulses in the EU – politics

For the first time since the beginning of the Corona crisis, French President Macron visits the Chancellor. Merkel makes it clear to journalists: The German EU Council Presidency should run in a duo with Paris.

Angela Merkel calls her meeting with Emanuel Macron in the Meseberg Castle in Brandenburg a “well-filled day”. Indeed, the talks between the German and French delegations seem to be so extensive that the press conference between the Chancellor and the President starts more than three quarters of an hour late. Merkel starts, and in her statement the German head of government emphasizes that Macron has been the “first guest” since the beginning of the corona crisis in Germany, her “great joy” about the visit. Then she quickly gets down to business.

“We are living in a serious time,” says Merkel. She calls the corona pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis a “challenge that we may never have had before”. The consequences would remain with Europe for a long time. After the pandemic, the world would be different, Merkel says later.

“Question of war and peace in the truest sense of the word”

Germany takes over the six-monthly EU Presidency on July 1st. Merkel makes it clear that she is planning the next six months not as a Berlin solo, but as a duet with Paris. Germany and France wanted to play a role together, says Merkel, emphasizing the importance of the EU for the future of its member states. It lists the position in the world, the economy. A drastic wording draws attention: Merkel speaks of the “question of war and peace in the truest sense of the word”.

Germany and France want to “tackle Europe’s future issues together”, Merkel says, “they want to support each other”. If Berlin and Paris agreed, it was not yet a European agreement, but such agreement could be a “positive impulse” for the rest of the Union.

When listing the major future topics, Merkel first mentioned climate protection and CO₂ reduction. “We have to protect Europe”, said Merkel and then talks about “trade and economic activity” – probably with a view to the uncertain Brexit negotiations with London and the unpredictable US President Donald Trump. Europe also has to “become more sovereign in digitalization”, says Merkel. It is important to “define our relations with the world as an EU.” Everywhere you face great challenges, says the Chancellor, you can “watch it every day”. Macron and his people will still talk about Libya and “engagement in the Western Balkans” – that is, the situation of refugees. The talks will drag on into the evening, Merkel made that clear. Just a “well-filled day.”

Macron not only comments on the EU, but also on Libya

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron is putting pressure on EU reconstruction aid after the Corona crisis. The 42-year-old says that there should be an agreement on the EU financial framework and the reconstruction plan in July. “This is our top priority,” said Macron. Waiting won’t make things easier.

The president is also targeting Turkey for its role in the conflict in Libya. Macron says that is a threat to Africa and Europe. France condemns outside interference, and NATO member Turkey supports the internationally recognized government in Libya in the conflict. Macron said Ankara violated commitments made at the Berlin Libya conference in January. Paris, on the other hand, is committed to a lasting political solution to the conflict.

Macron also deals with the so-called “Wagner Group”. At a video conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, he also condemned the presence of the group, said Macron. The US military believes that around 2,000 members of the private Russian group are deployed in the country, which has been shaken by the civil war. The “Wagner Group” is said to have relations with the Kremlin.

Before that, Macron and Merkel greeted each other in front of Meseberg Castle – the Federal Government’s guest house. Their conversation should focus on economic reconstruction in Europe after the Corona crisis, it said. It is the first visit by a foreign head of state to the Chancellor since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. Macron and Merkel proposed a € 500 billion aid fund in May to bring the European economy out of the Corona crisis. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen subsequently presented a debt-financed reconstruction plan with a volume of 750 billion euros.

500 billion euros of this is to be granted as grants and 250 billion as loans to EU countries. The debts are to be paid off from the EU budget by 2058. The plan is being negotiated together with the next seven-year EU financial framework, for which the Commission is targeting 1.1 trillion euros. Merkel and Macron promote this plan among the other EU member states. Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark – the “Frugal Four” – reject grants that do not have to be repaid. A decision could be made at the EU summit in Brussels in mid-July.

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