17/05/2017 Briefings

TRANSLATION: Ladies and gentlemen, I am very happy that I can welcome

here the French president, who has been inaugurated yesterday, I am

very happy to greet and welcome him here in Berlin. It is a great honour

that the first trip you are undertaking has taken you to Berlin,

to Germany, and you can see from the number of journalists that your trip

has stirred a certain amount of interest. We have exchanged our

views today and we have agreed that we are going to continue to work

very closely together. For a start, I congratulated the president for

his very courageous path that he is going to undertake, and the path

started during his electoral campaign and I wish him see the very

best of luck for his political future, to make sure that France

remains able to back and react. We know about the importance and

significance of the Franco German relationship. It is a historic and

long established relationship. And personally, I've 1am very much aware

-- personally, I for one, and very aware that at this point in time in

the European Union, that we must take the right decisions, and we

have agreed to work closely together, in friendly terms, for the

benefit of the people in our countries. I believe that the

essence of this relationship should be, and this is what Mr Macron says

to us Germans, we of course represent our nation's interests,

but the German interest are very closely linked with the French

interests, and Europe can only prosper if and when France and

Germany prosper. And that's the reason why I feel so committed to

this, and I say there is also on behalf of the federal government. We

have been discussing three areas which we are going to intensify over

dinner. There are number of issues, for example, the European asylum

system, we are going to talk about the service directive, we are

currently talk about issues regarding trade and commerce, and we

want to create jobs, we want to secure jobs in our countries. It is

something which is going to be very important for people who are

unemployed in Germany and perhaps even more importantly in France.

Secondary, we have agreed thus our bilateral co-operation will have to

be further developed, we are going to connect with points in the past,

but we want to increase the dynamics, that's the reason why in

July we want to conduct another German-French Council of Ministers,

in order to present a number of project that should give a new push

to our relationship. We have also agreed that in the midterm of the

European Union, we want to work out a timetable, a road map, if you

like, so project that cannot valet overnight, but we have a joint

conviction that we are not only going to deal with the British exit

from the European Union, but we also need to deepen the European Union,

the co-operation within the Eurozone and we need to promote co-operation.

For example, issues like tax system harmonisation, that can also be part

of our discussions. Co-operation in defence, we are going to intensify

our talks there as well. There should be a more coherent European

defence and foreign policy, and France and Germany will be a

component in this trust, and I also support all the efforts to somehow

decrease bureaucracy. Sometimes we are too cumbersome, too slow and not

too agile. So, a very warm welcome here in Berlin. And from my part, I

can only say, I look forward to a very good co-operation and I look

forward to our good results for the citizens in our countries.

TRANSLATION: Thank you very much thank you, Madame Chancellor. Ladies

and gentlemen, on my side, I am very happy indeed steamy day after the

handing over of powers, to be here with you in Berlin, and to have this

first exchange on our future policies. You reminded people that I

was elected on the 7th of May for a project which was clearly European,

defending Europe, the European project and the Franco German

project, not a relationship of blackmail but of trust, which is a

condition of progressing Europe, to progress overall. And of course, I

haven't forgotten the message of anger, of the French people, that

expressed itself on the 7th of May, and which reminded us, all of us,

that there are also reforms that need to be made, more effectiveness

and protection with regards to certain troubles that have affected

the people and the world. And so I am here today, I am happy to

represent France, but with a heavy burden, a heavy task, my first task,

Madame Chancellor, is to put in place the reforms that France needs.

And so, the agenda will be one of reform over the next few months,

social, economic and educational, as I stated during the campaign,

because France needs it. Because France today, the only big country

in the European Union which over the last 30 years has not been able to

avoid mass unemployment. And that is what make and will do, which I will

talk about tomorrow. And then we will have the Parliamentary

elections as you stated, but it is in that spirit that I will ask the

Prime Minister to conduct the government's policy. And then there

is the need to have a Europe which is less bureaucratic and a Europe

which protects, and it is with that in mind that we have had our

exchanges. And you have talked about several projects in the short-term

which we can discuss closely. Writes of asylum, outsourcing of jobs

within the EU, these are all subjects which will have an impact

on the daily lives of our citizens and companies and over which we need

more pragmatism and more European realism, less bureaucracy and a

Europe which protects more our citizens. Other projects, other

plans, we will continue to talk about, and these are our bilateral

relationships with regards to tax, biometrics, convergence, and on the

educational level, and also with regards to external defence and

security, international policies and these are subjects we shall continue

to talk about over the coming weeks, and I'm happy that we shall have a

limited committee which we will talk about between our respective

governments. Finally, I am also happy that together, with our

respective teams, we will be able to work for projects over the

medium-term and have a common road medium-term and have a common road

map for the European Union and Eurozone. These are very, very

important subject, as we've seen over the last few years, and you

yourself as Chancellor have managed these projects. They also have an

impact on our citizens. And in-depth reforms are required and require

joint action, and my desire is that over the coming weeks, we can

contribute and have a Franco German road map which will allow us to

progress more widely over the next few years on these subject. Our

relationship needs more trust, and to have practical results. And the

Franco German couple I believe needs to restate more pragmatism and

voluntarism, short- and medium-term, for the European Union and for the

Eurozone. And it is with this in mind that we shall work together and

on my site, I will always be an honest, direct and constructive

partner, because I believe that the success of our two countries is very

closely related, and on that depends the whole success of Europe, and I

am very attached to it. And I think you, Madame Chancellor, once again,

for your welcome, and I would like to say in a spirit of responsibility

and of commitment, whilst respecting republican rules and the

geographical distinction shown during the presidential campaign.

TRANSLATION: Madame Chancellor, Mr new French president, you have just

talked about it, certain facts, Frankie Jones history, we think of

the goal, she's got Distin, Helmut Kohl, Francis Mitterrand, amongst

others, and so I am asking you, over the last few years, we have the

feeling that the Franco German relationship had lost in density -

will this density remain, do you wish to once again have a historical

relationship between France and Germany? Yes. I will perhaps develop

a little bit! Yes, because I believe that we are at an historical turning

point in Europe as the very conditions of the French

presidential elections have shown what we have seen in many European

countries in the European Union, which shows us every day that there

is a rise in populism, which is a direct consequence of populations

that doubt that progress is mismanaged, not enough balance. We

need a moment of relaunch of the creation. Of course there are

difficulties, and public opinions don't have the same sensitivity. It

can only be done with mutual respect, with a very close working

relationship. As I believe in historical we creation, I also

believe in mutual trust. I think that in order to reach that, I think

that everyone needs to do what he needs to do. In France, I need to

apply in-depth reforms which are necessary for our country, but also

for the full restoration of the return to Franco German trust,

something which Madame Chancellor needs to do so in her political

life. But both of us are convinced that we need short-term results, but

also real transformation and a wee creation and we founding of Europe.

In any case, I am fully in, with my presidential mandate, my policy will

be strong and intense and responsible between France and

Germany on many subjects, a return to full confidence and trust and to

have a historical relationship, where our duty in the coming years

is to organise a relaunch of the Eurozone and the European Union.

It is interesting that in Germany there is at the moment is very

receptive audience and we have reached a point in time where many

people as what we have with Europe, in Europe, and many people seem

Europe is very important -- many people say that Europe is very

important. Over the last few years we have somewhat lost sight of these

questions and answers and the French and Dutch elections have really

shown to us Germans what a treasure Europe and the European Union are.

And how important the Franco German relationship is for this treasure,

and I think we have reached a moment in history and we should really use

this moment to show people that Europe can really be strengthened.

TRANSLATION: Mr President, you certainly will have noticed earlier

the small crowd that gathered in front of this chancellery, and I can

tell you in the history of this building I have never seen such a

scene, such a crowd, to greet foreign leader. Perhaps that was

true for Barack Obama, but what was your feeling with this crowd, people

who are dancing, who are singing in your honour? Is it pressure, do you

feel pressure? Or do you feel strengthened? And Madame Chancellor

I would like to ask you what does it mean to you to see the scenes,

people literally in front of your office windows, where a few months

ago Pediga and people who are enemies of the state, if you like,

where they have held matches -- held marches, and all of a sudden there

is this new atmosphere? TRANSLATION: First of all it is very moving for

me, this joy that accompanies the victory in Berlin, it moves me,

because it shows there has been a European commitment and that Europe,

contrary to what people say, it is not just a question of doubt, the,

Brexit, or Frexit for some, but it is the feeling of attachment that

men and women feel, and it is very difficult, and it is also our

responsibility to give credence to Europe. This enthusiasm. I am very

attached to it, and that is how it lives. That is the reason why I take

this opportunity, as I said earlier, that during this campaign I have

committed myself so that we share better our linguistic world and I

have decided to have bilingual classes, and that during the

ministerial meeting we shall have in July, are ministers of National

education will work on more elaboration, because from next

September there will be bilingual classes in France, but more widely

this enthusiasm beyond this time, it forces us, and I don't think it

gives us strength in relation to Madame Chancellor, because she has

the same obligations as myself and she has taken the initiative, when

we went up to her office, to go out onto the balcony and greet me with

much enthusiasm, but it forces us, because those who believe in Europe

need to be able to give to other people the proof, the evidence, that

this Europe works. We must have a plan every day, that without Europe

we would neither have peace, nor prosperity, nor freedom, and that

our continent, and in fact I would say our two countries, have never

known, over many decades, so much prosperity, and there is a danger of

forgetting, so beyond that it forces us to have results, forces us to

have a sense of perspective, and what I wish is that in five years'

time when I shall return to visit Madame Chancellor that there can be

the same crowd, an even bigger one, because we will have obtained

results. TRANSLATION: We have this sentence stemming from Herman Hesse

and -- it says each and every departure shall have a new beginning

in it, and that is the beauty. Now we have an opportunity to start

working together, but of course in the knowledge that we can only

accomplish something if we can also deliver results. We know about that,

and that will be our guiding principle, but of course it is very

encouraging when people turn up here and they support us, and they also

are cheerful. I think the French president said something which moved

me very much, namely that he wants for the French people to be

optimistic and to look optimistically into the future. I

believe this is a wish I would like to support wholeheartedly.

TRANSLATION: Madame Chancellor, to relaunch Europe, as President Macron

said, can we envisage a change of treaties, as Mr Macron suggested, Mr

President, your Prime Minister said he is of the right. Does that mean

your politics will be the politics of the right? TRANSLATION: We spoke

about it briefly from the chairman perspective. It is possible to

change the treaties, if that makes sense, and if it is necessary to

change the Eurozone, then you can perhaps legitimise and sometimes use

it as a European component, but of coarse we first need to establish

what they want to do, and if a change to the treaty is necessary

then I will be prepared to do just that. You cannot say, and I have

always taken offence with that since we have had the Lisbon Treaty, we

hear people saying, we have made such a hard effort and this treaty

will never be changed in the entire lifetime of people, but of course

the European Union is under attack from all corners and the world

changes and we should not say we should never change the treaty. We

should always ask ourselves, what is the sense? And if and when it makes

sense generally we will be prepared. TRANSLATION: I must say, to be

completely honest, Madame Chancellor, the subject of changing

treaties used to be a French taboo subject. In my case that would apply

-- won't apply and I hope the joint road map will be one that gives

prospective for the Eurozone and in this process there must be

institutional changes. And new treaties, we are ready for it. What

counts is the political concept of the future, the terms and

conditions, and if we can be convinced the concept is clear and

if it requires institutional changes and it is determined, I hope it

would be the case there will be no taboo as far as I am concerned. As

for your second question, now we shall apply the discipline of not

speaking of foreign politics outside of France. The political

recomposition which I initiated a few months ago which led to my

election will continue, within the framework. The framework of French

people wanted, not war and not less. TRANSLATION: Mr President and Madame

Chancellor, I would like to know if the desire for corporation that you

have expressed, that it may not be hiding major differences. A major

European act has been announced during the election campaign that

sounds a bit like a free-trade agreement, in the American style.

Are you afraid, Madame Chancellor, that the existing trade arrangements

will be eliminated and the treaty that has been suggested or

corporation that has been suggested, is it not what we already have? And

would it not be better to actually link up with the Juncker plan and

perhaps invest more money, and perhaps you can also eliminate one

rumour here in Germany... There is a rumour that this is to be

introduced... Is that a myth or a rumour, what is it? TRANSLATION:

Regarding the first question, I hope we have are Europe that protects

better and that from time to time there is less naivety. When I was

Minister for economics and industry for several months I pushed forward

the idea that the commission shortens the delays and shortens the

rates for anti-dumping. It is not unfair but today Europe defends less

well its workers and companies than the United States, so I wish us to

improve our anti-dumping policy and I believe in free trade and

international trade and fair competition, but we can believe in

it without being naive, because otherwise you cannot expend it to

your workers. When you workers lose their jobs, not because they are not

competitive, but because they are attacked unfairly by foreign

companies that apply dumping, if you tell them, Europe doesn't react, you

kill the European idea. With regards to public contracts, the first stage

is one which we can work with effectively together, totally

compatible with our joint philosophy with regards to trade. And it is to

apply reciprocity, and when we trade with the country that doesn't

respect certain rules, we can have reciprocity on the subject. I think

it is a pragmatism and is totally in compliance with what we can defend

regarding and opening of trade. Secondly, regarding the European

fund or budgetary capacity, in no way is that question of debilitating

that Juncker plan, but shall state the reality. It is just an

instrument of a long-term financing of debt. The Juncker plan, enabled

to recover existing money from the, by using the funds of the European

investment bank and markets to get financing for big projects and

companies. It is very useful but in no way is it a budgetary capacity

because it is not new money. What the Eurozone needs in particular is

to have a voluntary policy with regards to public and private

investment. And to be able to inject fresh money and to have a true

budgetary capacity, and means to apply this through rules of

convergence, true structural rules, because one doesn't go with the

other. We need a road map to work from. And that is the reason why I

have never in the project I put forward ever defended what we call

the Eurobonds and what that covers in the German debate. I am not a

promoter of the neutralisation of past debts. Why? It leads to a

policy of making less responsible those who have made efforts, not be

rewarded by others, and we have specific cases to examine in time,

but what I believe is we have new investments to be made and to think

about investment mechanisms for the future, and to work on more

integration for the future, but in no way not neutralising or pooling

the past and I want to be clear so we can progress positively.

TRANSLATION: I believe there are commonalities and there may be

differences but the exciting thing about Franco German cooperation is

we are not by default of one view, but we come to a symbiosis and that

is to the benefit of the two countries but also for the larger

Europe, so we will speak about it, but regarding the trade relations,

the element of reciprocity, I can well imagine that in the European

Union. For example, we asked the commission to consider as to whether

there may also be investments for strategic decisions, not only on a

national basis, and regarding the worker directive, we will work

closely together. For me it is very important what the president was

just saying, namely you need coherence in terms of the legal

framework, for example you could speak about the corporation tax

being harmonised, being closer to each other country to country, to

exchange best practices in recruitment, in the recruitment

process. Every country would have their own experience and also about

integration. I believe we have a lot of

commonalities but also a lot of work to do. That is a matter of fact. But

workers not accomplished today, but I think we have already made a good

start. The good start will give us a good momentum to continue working.

Thank you.