Merkel and Macron seek compromise to 'crisis-proof' the eurozone
Europe's most powerful leaders vow to present a united front at a June summit despite anger over liability plans
Berlin — Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a spirit of compromise on reforming the eurozone at a meeting on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed for solidarity among members of the currency union. Before starting talks, the two leaders said they would present a united front at a June meeting of EU leaders on reforming the 19-member eurozone, which Merkel said was "not yet sufficiently crisis-proof". Their meeting took place amid grumbling by legislators from Merkel’s conservative bloc, who are wary that Macron’s call for more solidarity in the eurozone could see German taxpayers’ money used to fund profligate member states. "No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence," the French leader told a news conference with Merkel in the German capital before their talks. Macron’s vision includes turning Europe’s existing bail-out fund into a European Monetary Fund, to act as a buffer in any future financial crises in the bloc, which was nearly torn ...
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