Merkel's Praise Sets Tone for Macron Debut Among European Peers
- Chancellor seeks German-French cooperation plan by September
- French president seen infusing EU summit with ‘creativity’
The Meteoric Rise of France's New President
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Angela Merkel said she’ll present detailed plans for expanded German-French cooperation within three months with Emmanuel Macron, whom she credited with giving Europe a jolt of “creativity” and renewed purpose.
Five weeks into his French presidency, the German chancellor gave Macron an effusive reception on Thursday at his first summit with fellow European Union leaders in Brussels. Having backed 39-year-old Macron over anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen, Merkel is cheering his arrival as a chance for the EU to move forward after the U.K. voted to leave and U.S. President Donald Trump questioned the bloc’s reason to exist.