France-Germany Relations: Macron, Merkel agree on major EU reforms

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Europe

02:37

France and Germany have agreed on a key pillar of the French leader's plans to reform the European Union. A new Eurozone budget aims to be in place by 2021 but no figures were released. But that breakthrough in a joint cabinet meeting outside Berlin was overshadowed by another pressing issue -- migration. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports.

The line-up in the family photo was the give-away. Interior Ministers, not finance ministers, flanked the French and German leaders. And migration and not Eurozone reforms as originally planned, topped the agenda.

EMMANUEL MACRON FRENCH PRESIDENT "We believe in a European response to migration challenges. These challenges are not new and we did not notice them last week for the first time. But together we are determined to coordinate on a European level with all member states that share our interests, on a European level with all 28 members."

After years of wrangling, they now have two weeks: the time of the next European Union summit. After that the German Chancellor's own allies may force her to change policy and start turning back some asylum seekers at the national borders. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer himself is the chief rebel.

HORST SEEHOFER GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER "If we are able to achieve the same result - that is, rejecting people at the border - in June on a European level or through bilateral agreements, then we would be very pleased about that. We wish the chancellor much luck. But we stick to our position that should that not be possible, we must be able to immediately reject people at the border."

Last week, Italy's new government turned away this vessel - the Aquarius - carrying migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea. Spain took them in instead and it's not clear if it would do so again.

GUY HENDERSON BERLIN "As Angela Merkel races to find answers, she is looking for Emmanuel Macron's help. Backing her on such a sensitive issue comes with political risks for the French president. Backing away, though, could also prove costly for him."

Merkel did afterall sign on to a key pillar of Macron's grand plan to reform the EU.

ANGELA MERKEL GERMAN CHANCELLOR "We are striving for a eurozone budget which should come into force parallel to the midterm financial outlook."

If Angela Merkel falls: her successor might not be so accommodating. GH, CGTN, BERLIN.