Merkel endorses Macron’s EU military plan

German Chancellor sounds cautious note on Macron’s eurozone reform plans.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday she supports the idea of a joint European defense force, adding that the initiative could be open to British participation post Brexit.

Merkel’s French counterpart Emmanuel Macron has been pushing for the creation of a combined EU military force that could be deployed to trouble spots around the world. The idea had so far received a frosty reception in Berlin, with defense minister Ursula von der Leyen saying the idea is “not an imminent project for tomorrow.” Merkel’s intervention represents a significant change of tone.

“I am in favor of President Macron’s proposal for an intervention initiative,” Merkel said in a wide-raning interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

Merkel said the initiative “needs to fit into the structure of defense cooperation,” which she said should bring down the number of different EU weapon systems from 180 to “about 30.”

“With this, we will already develop more European unity. This will need to be complemented by joint strategic action in [military] deployment.”

The German leader also supported Macron’s idea of inviting Britain — which has the second-largest army in the EU — to join that force even after it leaves the bloc. “We can additionally open that initiative to a country like Great Britain,” Merkel said.

Germany’s Bundeswehr would not need to participate in all such European missions, Merkel said, and would join “to the extent of the possibilities of a parliamentary army.”

Asked about Macron’s proposals for closer eurozone cooperation, Merkel said she could envisage a future European Monetary Fund paying out short-term credit lines, on top of the long-term credits already provided by the European Stability Mechanism.

“I can envisage the possibility of a credit line with shorter maturities, for example five years. With this, we could assist countries which have run into trouble due to external circumstances. Of course, this would always be bound to conditions, would be limited in volume and with complete repayment,” said the German chancellor.

“A [European Monetary Fund] with such powers needs to be able to assess the economic situation in all member countries on its own competence. It should also evaluate the debt sustainability of the member countries and must be equipped with the right instruments to re-establish this, if needed,” she added.

Asked about the debate on the EU’s next multiyear budget, Merkel said it is important for the EU to vote through the next Multiannual Financial Framework before the next EU election, and predicted that all net payers would need to shoulder bigger contributions.

“In today’s uncertain times, Europe must be capable of acting at any time. If we postpone these discussions, we could end up not being able to pay Erasmus scholarships for an entire year, or delaying the development of Frontex … not to speak of structural funds and important research programs,” she said.

Merkel also called for the creation of an EU-wide asylum agency “that processes all asylum claims at the external borders, based on unified EU asylum law.”

The German chancellor defended the Spitzenkandidat (or lead candidate) principle for selecting the European Commission president, but said the system would need to change with time. “In the long run this will only work if the lead candidate is on top of a transnational list, meaning he can be elected in all countries. Only then will he be independent from a decision of his home country’s government to nominate him.” Currently, lead candidates are selected by EU-wide party groups but citizens cannot vote for them directly.

Asked about her goals for the EU in the next five to ten years, Merkel said: “My goal is that the world knows: In foreign policy, Europe speaks with one voice.”

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