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Merkel Commits to a Bold New Europe, Just Not in the Euro Area

  • German CDU, SPD caucus leaders squabble over reform commitment
  • German chancellor cites need for treaty change to her caucus
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Merkel Begins Fourth Term As German Chancellor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed to reach common ground with French President Emmanuel Macron on a wide slate of European Union reforms, sidestepping a spat in her coalition over strengthening the euro area to focus on other policy areas.

“The reforms that Europe needs go well beyond the issues of the economic and currency union,” Merkel told reporters Tuesday in Berlin. Issues including a joint asylum system, coherent EU foreign policy and common security initiatives are “all equal columns of the same project: a strong Europe, one bound by values,” she said.