Macron and Merkel Press Conference 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 him and welcome him in Berlin, it is a great honour

that the first trip that you undertake 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 he is going to undertake, and the path started

during his electoral campaign, and I wish him all the very best, best of

luck for his political future to make sure that France remains able

to act and react. We know about the importance and significance of the

Franco-German relationship, it is a historically and long established

grown relationship, and I personally, I for one am very much

aware of the responsibility, at this critical point in time for the

European Union that we can and 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 that, this is what Mr Macron says

to us German, we of course represent our nations interests but the German

interests are very closely linked with the French interests, and

Europe can only prosper if and when France and Germany prosper, and that

is the reason why I feel so committed to this h and I say this

also on behalf of the federal Government, we have been discussing

about three areas, that we are going to deep, intensify over dinner,

there are a number of issues for example, the European asylum system,

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

talk about issues regarding trade and commerce, and we want to create

jobs, we want to secure jobs in our countries, something which is going

to be very important, for people who are unemployed in Germany and

perhaps even more importantly, in France. Secondly, we agreed that our

bilateral cooperation will have to be further developed, we are going

to connect with points in the past, but we want to increase the dynamics

and that is the reason why in July we want to conduct another German

French council of minister, in order to present a number of projects that

should give a new push to our relationship.

We have also agreed that in the mid-term of the European Union we

want to work out a timetable, a road map, if you like, projects that

cannot develop 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 cooperation

within the eurozone, and we need to promote cooperation. For example,

issues like a tax system, harmonisation, that can also be part

of our discussions. Corporation in defence, we are going to intensify

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

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

component in this thrust. I also support all efforts to somehow

decrease bureaucracy, sometimes we are too cumbersome, to slow and not

too agile. A warm welcome, here in Berlin. I can only say that I look

forward to a very good cooperation and I look forward to our good

results for the citizens in our countries. TRANSLATION: Thank you

very much. Ladies and gentlemen, on my side, I am very happy, the 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 that was clearly

defending Europe, the European project and the Franco German

project. Not a relationship of blackmail, but of trust, which is

the condition of progressing for Europe to progress overall. 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 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. So, I am here today, I am

happy to represent France, but with a heavy burden, a heavy task. My

first task is to put in place the reforms that France needs. The

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

economic and educational, as I stated during the campaign. Not

because Europe requests this, but France needs it. France today is the

only big country and the European Union which, over the last 30 years,

has not been able to avoid mass unemployment. That is what my

government will do, which I will talk about tomorrow. Then there will

be parliamentary elections, as you stated. But it is within that

spirit, and I will ask the Prime Minister to conduct the government's

policy. Then there is the need to have a Europe which is less

bureaucratic and a Europe that protects. It is with that in mind

but we have had our exchanges. We have talked about several projects

in the short-term, over which can discuss closely. The rights 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 that protects more our

citizens. Other projects, other plans, we will continue to talk

about them. These are our bilateral relationships with regards to tax,

metrics of convergence and on the educational level, and also with

regard to external defence and security, and international

policies. These are subjects we will continue to talk about over the

coming weeks. I am happy that we shall have a limited committee, and

we will talk about it 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

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

important subjects, as we have seen over the last few years. You

yourself, as Chancellor, has managed to these projects. They also have an

impact on all citizens. In depth reforms are required and require

joint action. My desire is, over the coming weeks, that we can contribute

and have a Franco German road map that will allow us to progress over

the next few years on these subjects. Our relationship needs

more trust and to have practical results. The Franco German couple, I

believe, needs to restate more pragmatism and voluntarism, short

and medium-term, for all of the European Union and the eurozone. It

is with this in mind that we will work together. On my side, I will

always be honest, direct and constructive as a 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. I thank you, Madam Chancellor, once again, for your

welcome. I would like to say, for the spirit of responsibility and

commitment, whilst respecting the Republican rules, and the

geographical distinction that you have shown during the presidential

campaign. TRANSLATION: Madam Chancellor, Mr

President, you have just talked about it. Certain facts of Franco

German history, we think of DeGaulle, Helmut Kohl and Francois

Mitterrand, amongst others. We had the feeling that the Franco German

relationship had lost in density. Will this density remain? Do you

wish to once again have an historical relationship between

France and Germany? TRANSLATION: Yes. I will perhaps develop a little

better. Yes, because I believe that we are at a time, an historical

turning point of Europe. The very conditions that the French

presidential elections have shown, and what we see in many countries of

the European Union, shows as everyday that there is a rise in

populism, a direct consequence of populations that doubt, that think

progresses mismanaged and there is not enough balance. We need a moment

of relaunch, of recreation. Of course, there are difficulties and

public opinions do not have the same sensitivity. There is balance that

is required. We can only do it with a close working relationship. As I

believe in historical recreation, I believe in mutual trust. 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, the return of Franco

German trust. Madam Chancellor, in her political life, needs to do so.

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

real transformation, a recreation, a re-founding of Europe. In any case,

I am fully in this, and with my presidential mandate, a policy which

is strong, intense and a responsible one between France and Germany, on

multiple subjects. A return to full confidence, trust and to have an

historical relationship, where our duty in the coming years is to

organise a relaunch of the eurozone and the European Union. TRANSLATION:

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

receptive audience. We have reached a point in time where many people

say, what do we have in Europe, what do we have with Europe? A lot of

people say Europe is rather important, very important. Over the

last few years, we have somewhat lost sight of these questions and

answers. The French elections, the Dutch elections, have really shown

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

important the Franco German friendship is for this treasure. I

think we have reached a moment in history, and I think we should

really use this moment to show to people that Europe can really be

strengthened. TRANSLATION: Mr President, you have certainly

noticed earlier this small crowd that gathered in front of the

chancellery. In the history of this building, I have never seen such a

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

for Barack Obama. What is your feeling with this crowd, people that

are dancing, singing in your honour? Is it pressure? Do you feel

pressure, or do you feel strengthened? And Madam Chancellor,

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

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

ago people who are enemies of the state, if you like, they have held

marches and all of a sudden we have this new atmosphere? TRANSLATION:

First of all, for me it is very moving. This joy that accompanies

the victory here in Berlin moves me a lot. It shows there has been a

European commitment and that Europe, contrary to what many people say, it

is not about doubt, Brexit, or Frexit for some, it is the feeling

of attachment men and women feel. It is very difficult, it is also our

responsibility to give credence to Europe, this enthusiasm. I am very

attached to it. 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. I have

decided to have bilingual classes. During the ministerial meeting that

we shall have in July, our ministers of national education will work on

more collaboration. From next September, there will be bilingual

classes in France. More widely, the enthusiasm beyond this time, it

forces us. I don't think it gives us strength in relation to Madam

Chancellor, because she has the same obligations as myself and she,

herself, has taken the initiative. When we went to her office to go to

the balcony and greet everyone with much enthusiasm. But it forces us,

because those that believe in Europe need to be able to give to other

people the proof, evidence, that this Europe works. We must have a

plan, every day, that without Europe we would neither have peace nor

prosperity, no freedom. That our continent, and I would say in fact

our two countries, have never known, over so many decades, so much

prosperity. It forgets, there is a danger. Beyond that, it forces us to

have results. It forces us to have a sense of perspective. What I wish is

that, in five years' time, when I shall return to visit Madam

Chancellor, that there could be the same crowd, an even bigger one,

because we will have obtained results.

We have the sentence stemming saying that each and every departure has a

new beginning in it. And that is the beauty of it. Now we have the

opportunity to start working together, but of course, this in the

knowledge that we can only come accomplish something if we can also

deliver result, we know about that and that is going to be our guiding

prince Prime Minister. It is encouraging when people turn up here

and they support, and they support us and they are also 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

opt tickically into the future. I believe this is a wish I would like

to support wholeheartedly. -- optimistically.

Madame Chancellor, to relaunch Europe as President Macron said, can

we envisage a change of treaties in the short-term, as Mr Macron's

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 talked about it briefly from the German perspective.

It is possible to change the treaties if it makes sense, and if

it is necessary, in order to change the EU row zone, and you can perhaps

legitimise and you, sometimes use it as a European component but of

course we first need to establish what we 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 since we had the

Lisbon Treaty, we hear people saying they 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 shouldn't say that we should never change the

treaty, we should always ask ourselves what is the sense and if

and when it makes sense Germany will be prepared.

I must say to be completely honest, to Madame Chancellor, the subject of

change of treaties used to be a French taboo subject. In my case

that won't apply, and so I hope I expect that the joint road map will

be one that will give once again perspective and for the EU row zone,

and in this process there must be institutional changes, and new

treaties, we are ready for it. What counts is the political concept, the

future, terms and conditions, and our citizens can be convinced if the

concept is clear, and if it requires institutional changes and it is

determined, I hope it will be the case, there will be no taboo. As for

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

talking of foreign politics outside France, the political recome

situation which I initiated a few months ago which led to my election

will continue. Within the framework of my Presidential election, and

what the French people wanted. Not more, not less.

Mr President, and Madame Chancellor, I would like to know if the desire

for cooperation that you have expressed, that it may not be hiding

a major differences, a major European act has been announced

during the electoral campaign, that sounds a little bit like a free

trade agreement, do you, are you not afraid Madame Chancellor, that

perhaps the existing trade arrangements are going to be

eliminated, and the treaty that has been suggested, or the cooperation

that has been suggested is it not really what we already have, would

it not be better to link up with the Juncker plan and to invest more

money, and perhaps you can also eliminate one rumour here in

Germany, there is rumour that euro bonds are to be introduced, this is

that myth or just a rumour or what is it? As regards the first

question, I wish, I hope we have a Europe that protects better. And

that from time to time, there is less naivety, when I was minister

for economics and industry for several Mondays 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

it workers and company, than the United States, and 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. Otherwise you cannot expend it to your worker,

when your workers lose their job, not because they are not

competitive, but because they are attacked unFirst World Warily by

foreign companies that apply dumping. If you tell them Europe

doesn't react you kill the European idea. With regards to a public

conracket, the first stage is one which we can worker effectively

together, which is totally compatible with our philosophy, our

joint philosophy with regards to trade, and it is to apply

reciprocity, and when we trade with a country that doesn't respect

certain rule, then we can have reciprocity on the subject. I think

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

with regards to an opening of trade. Secondly, with regards to the

European fund or a budgetary capacity, in no way is the question

of duplicating the Juncker plan but we shall state the reality. It is

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

enabled to recover the existing money, from the, by using the funds

of European investment bank and markets, to give financing for big

projects to companies. It is useful but in no way is it a budgetary

capacity, it is not new money. What the EU row done needs in particular,

is to have a volleyball tourist policy with regards to public and

private investment, and to be able to inject fresh money and to have a

true budgetary capacity, a means that to apply this through rules of

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

other. The net objective of a road map over which we need to work. That

is the reason I have never defended what we call the EU row bonds, and

what it covers innier man debate. I am not promoter of the mutualisation

of past debts. Why? Because it leads to a policy of deresponsiblising.

What I believe is that we have new investments to made, and to think

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

integration for the future, but in no way, not mutualising, pooling of

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

believe there are communalties, there may be differences of course,

but the exciting thing about Franco-German cooperation is that 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 talk about it. But as regards 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

might also be investment for strategic decisions, not only on a

national basis and regards the worker directive we will work

closely together. For me it is very important that the President was

just saying. Namely, that you need coherence in terms of the legal

framework, for exam. You could talk about the cooperation -- corporation

tax, to be harmonised, to be closer to each other, from country to

country, to exchange best practises in, recruitment in the recruitment

process, every country would have their own experience, and also about

integration. So I believe we have a lot of

communalties and a lot of work to do, that is a matter-of-fact, of

course that work is not accomplished with today, but I think we have

already made a good start, and the good start is going to give us a

good momentum to continue working. Working. Thank you very much.