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Merkel, Macron search for reforms to halt EU ‘disintegration’

MESEBERG (Germany):  German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday to hammer out reforms that can stop the “disintegration” of the European Union, torn by populist forces and deep discord over immigration.

The two leaders of Europe’s biggest economies will seek to thrash out a compromise between Macron’s bold vision for sweeping EU change and Germany’s stance that is more cautious, especially when it comes to finance. Merkel and Macron have both stressed that, as US President Donald Trump openly challenges the EU with a trade war and over security and climate policy, the bloc must learn to stand its ground on the world stage. The ministerial retreat at Meseberg castle near Berlin aims to agree a joint Franco-German stance ahead of a key June 28-29 summit on the EU’s post-Brexit future, at a time when populists and eurosceptics are rapidly gaining ground.

As outspoken pro-Europeans, Merkel and Macron both face harsh opposition from nationalist and right-wing populist forces at home, and in the governments of Italy, Austria and several eastern European countries. Ahead of the meeting, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned that “Europe is in a process of disintegration. We see states that are turning inward, trying to find national solutions to problems that require European solutions.

 

 

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.