Angela Merkel warms to Emmanuel Macron’s eurozone reform vision

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Angela Merkel says she is open to the idea of giving the eurozone a single finance minister and a common budget, offering conditional support to one of French President Emmanuel Macron’s signature policies.
Signalling a desire for more European unity ahead of an EU summit this week, the German chancellor also warned the UK her priority in Brexit talks was to avoid splits among the bloc’s remaining 27 member states.

https://www.ft.com/content/5e64e96c-...d-c19e2700005f

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hmmm can't seem to post second article with quotes Looks good in preview but disappears in post But working on it.

France will work with Germany to push for greater European integration and will have a pragmatic relationship with Britain once it leaves the bloc, French President Emmanuel Macron told a roster of European papers ahead of his first European Council meeting with EU leaders in Brussels Thursday

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"Europe isn't a supermarket. Europe is a common destiny. It is weakened when it accepts its principles being rejected. The countries in Europe that don't respect the rules should have to face the political consequences. And thats not just an East-West debate".

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Warning pictures in this site. Will look for another.

Done in 5 MINUTES: EU Army proposal allowing more military action rushed through

A senior diplomat said the proposals were so popular at the European Council meeting that the plan was agreed after just 5 minute discussion

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/...ncker-military

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For Merkel and Europe, it's a summer of love: Burman

German chancellor Angela Merkel rises in polls as continental voters turn away from far right - and Trump.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2...ve-burman.html

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Vision and screwdrivers: Macron and Merkel converge on Europe

Now, less than two months after surging to victory in the French election, Macron is filling the void, articulating a path forward for the continent, and crucially, bringing Germany along with him.

That was the main take-away from a meeting of European Union leaders last week in which Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood side by side at an end-of-summit news conference and sent a message of total unity.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge...+World+News%29

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The reminder

Fareed Zakaria: The return of the center

http://wedg.millenniumweekend.org/fo...-of-the-center

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Albanians vote in election seen as test for democracy

Albanians are voting in a key parliamentary election that follows a landmark agreement between the country's two biggest political parties to back efforts to secure European Union membership.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...133046366.html

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France's Macron, Poroshenko hopeful of progress on resolving Ukraine conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukraine counterpart Petro Poroshenko on Monday expressed hopes of making progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, with Macron pressing for a withdrawal of forces around the border area with Russia. Both Macron and Poroshenko said they expected a new "Normandy format" meeting on Ukraine - involving Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia - to be held by late June or early July, before a G20 summit due July 7-8.
Poroshenko said he felt "much more optimistic" following the meeting with Macron, while Macron said German leader Angela Merkel shared his determination to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Macron reiterated that France did not accept the annexation of Crimea by Russia and said it was vital for Organization for Security & Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) officials be able to carry out their monitoring work in Ukraine.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fr...+World+News%29

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Iran urges Europe to help promote dialogue in Persian Gulf

[quote]Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, called on Europe on Monday to use its influence to promote dialogue in the Persian Gulf after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar earlier this month.

Blaming Iran or Qatar for "terrorism" is an attempt by those countries to avoid taking responsibility for their own failures in addressing the demands of their own people, he said in a speech in the German capital in which he argued for a new regional security mechanism for the Gulf countries.

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/I...an-Gulf-497959

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Italy's center-right wins big in mayoral elections

ROME - Italy's center-right parties were the big winners in mayoral elections on Sunday, partial results showed, in a vote likely to put pressure on the center-left government ahead of national elections due in less than a year.

In the most closely watched contest, the northern port city of Genoa - a traditional left-wing stronghold - seemed certain to pass to the center-right for the first time in more than 50 years.

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/I...ections-497918

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Macron says France will not recognize Russia's Crimea annexation

President Emmanuel Macron said Monday France refuses to recognise Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20170626/mac...mea-annexation

from another thread..


Macron, Trump vow joint response if Syria carries out chemical attack

US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron agreed during a telephone call Tuesday on the need for a joint response in the event of another chemical attack in Syria, the French presidency said.

http://wedg.millenniumweekend.org/fo...hemical-attack

even the socialist...

Former PM Valls quits Socialists to join Macrons army of MPs in parliament
https://www.thelocal.fr/20170627/for...-in-parliament

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Change is spreading and prepping....

Macron calls parliament to 'Sun King's palace, may eclipse PM

French President Emmanuel Macron will address a parliamentary session for both houses next Monday, a rare event which opponents said signaled his intent to concentrate power in the presidency.

Such a joint session of parliament is known as a Congress and takes place at Versailles, the sumptuous palace of France's former monarchy built outside Paris by Louis XIV - the 'Sun King' - to symbolize absolute power.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-fr...+World+News%29

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Emmanuel Macron kicks off controversial attempt to reform France's labour laws

Critics say the proposals put companies first and will reduce the rights of employees both individually and collectively

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a7813171.html

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France pledges to meet EU deficit target, despite strong headwinds

We commit to rein in the deficit to 3.0% this year: we will do it not by raising taxes, we will do it through making savings, Edouard Philippe said.

http://www.euractiv.com/section/econ...ong-headwinds/