Macron vows to enhance Franco-German ties

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has called for stronger cooperation between the EU’s two heavyweights -- France and Germany -- following his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.

“I want a Franco-German cooperation that is a lot more structured and focused on three things: investments, joint security at the borders and defense, especially in the Middle East and Africa,” Macron told a panel discussion at Berlin’s Hertie School of Governance, which he attended after his meeting with Merkel.

Macron, an independent presidential candidate who is leading the first round of the French election, has argued that stronger Franco-German cooperation would help the European Union to better address today’s challenges.

“If we can create this new German-French deal, that will be the first step to be successful within the Eurozone, as well as within the EU of 27 member states,” he said.

Macron has also underlined the need for reforms in France and pledged to take steps once elected.

“The European momentum needs to start in Germany and France, and at the moment the ball is in the court of the French players; we have to be honest about this,” he stressed.

“For more than 10 years, France has not seen any reforms. We have committed ourselves to carrying out reforms, but now for 10 years we haven’t seen any advances. Now, France basically has to carry out reforms,” he added.

Macron also called for steps by France and Germany to enhance social character of the EU in order to regain the trust of citizens for European integration.

"Social responsibility is no longer put at the center. This leads to a lot of debate in our countries," he said, and called for a debate within the EU on the redistribution of wealth plus fairness and equality.

"On the one hand we are generating income, and have some countries that carry out reforms. But this doesn't lead to any advantages to them. This can no longer work," he added.

In France, the first round of the presidential election is set for April 23 and the runoff for May 7.

Recent polls suggest independent and centrist candidate Macron is likely to beat French far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the second round.