Berlin - French President Emmanuel Macron
said on Monday that the possibility of change to EU treaties was
"not taboo" and that he wanted to see better protection for
Europe's workers.
Speaking in Berlin on his first foreign visit since his
inauguration on Sunday, and at his first joint news conference
with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he also dispelled the idea
circulating in German media that he was in favour of turning
national debts of euro zone countries into euro-zone debt.
"I am happy that we can work together on a common roadmap
for the European Union and the Euro Zone," he said. "In the
past, the subject of treaty change was a French taboo. It will
no longer be the case."
"There are several areas in which we can cooperate in the
short term," he added "Common asylum policy, posted workers and
bilateral trade. All these will have an impact on our citizens.
We need more pragmatism, less bureaucracy and a Europe that
protects our citizens."
On the subject of debt, he added: "I have never defended (the idea of) Eurobonds or the
mutualisation of existing debt in the euro zone.