Speaking after the regular, joint Franco-German cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wanted closer cooperation between the two European Union allies.

"I believe that we have shown shortly after the new government here was installed that we are ready to activate Franco-German relations with a new impetus," Merkel said in Paris during a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

When the two leaders met in May, the day after Macron's inauguration as French president, they pledged to create a new "road map" for medium-term cooperation and for reviving the EU.

Fiscal convergence

The governments are also working on developing a common line on European Commission proposals for bringing tax regimes into alignment across the bloc. Macron said that they had also agreed on a "project of fiscal convergence for enterprises."

Merkel acknowledged tax convergence was "not a simple subject, it is even a thorny one," but it would "permit the common market to develop."

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron have developed close cooperation since the day after his inauguration.

Revamp required

The spring edition of the twice yearly cabinet meeting had been postponed to July due to elections in France.

Ahead of the 19th holding of the joint cabinet meeting in Paris, Macron had renewed his call for reforms of the EU and specifically the eurozone, saying "the European Treaties will have to be changed some time, as this Europe is incomplete. The question is not whether we change, but when and how."

Afterwards, the two leaders said concrete details of their proposals on eurozone governance would be "developed later." But they "already recognize that the current architecture of the eurozone presents

persistent faults, and they share a desire to envisage new initiatives to reinforce it."

The French president has also proposed creating a finance minister, parliament and a common budget for the eurozone, which would require changes to EU treaties.

No single debt pool

Responding to fears that German taxpayers may have to shoulder the burden of shared debts, Macron said he was not in favor of turning national debts into a single pool of eurozone debt.

Watch video 02:29 Share Macron pledges to transform France Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2frOL Macron pledges to transform France

Macron, who beat far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in May, conceded that the French economy needed urgent reforms, but added that it was up to Germany to correct the "dysfunctions" in the eurozone and give it "the fate it deserves."

"Germany ... has a strong economy, but it has demographic weaknesses, economic and trade imbalances with its neighbours and shared responsibilities to give the euro area the future it deserves," he said ahead of the meeting. "Germany must concern itself with the reinvigoration of public and private investment in Europe," Macron had said ahead of the meeting.

Merkel has broadly welcomed his reforms, but most analysts doubt there will be any major changes until after Germany's federal election on September 24, where Merkel will seek a fourth term.

Macron and Merkel meet in Paris at the Elysee Palace

Defense cooperation

The two countries are to work together on a series of defense projects. They include a long-term replacement for their current fleets of fighter planes, a joint indirect fire artillery system and a new "major ground combat system."

"The aim of this joint fighter jet project is to do research and development together... to use it together... and to coordinate on exports," Macron said as he described it as "a profound revolution."

Europe's two fighter jets are the Rafale made by Dassault and the Eurofighter, a joint project between Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain.

Some of the projects would be opened up to other European countries once they are "sufficiently developed," they said.

Speaking later in the day in a defense policy speech, Macron said French military spending would be increased from next year in order to reach a target of two percent of economic output by 2025. "It's a considerable effort, considering the current context of budgetary constraints," Macron said. Defense spending would reach 34.2 billion euros ($38.98 billion) in 2018, including 650 million euros for external operations, Macron said.

Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft during an aerial exhibition

Bilingual school programs

Macron confirmed that bilingual French-German school programs would be reinstated. They had been abolished under his socialist predecessor Francois Hollande.

A record 540,000 middle school students would benefit from German language teaching Macron said.

Welcoming the announcement Merkel said "Of course, one understands the culture of another country better when one speaks its language."

Vive la France! Paris Stroll along the banks of the Seine, admire the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, look at the Arc de Triomphe, or, as here, enjoy the view of the French capital from the Eiffel Tower: Paris offers infinite opportunities for visitors. After you finish sightseeing, you can go to a café in the fashionable Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter or a bar in trendy Belleville.

Vive la France! Provence Fragrant lavender fields, medieval mountain villages, shimmering heat and that very special light. Provence in the summer is a celebration of the senses. Famous artists like Picasso, Chagall or van Gogh were so taken by this special place that they chose to stay here. With some 30 million visitors every year, the south of France is the country's most popular holiday destination.

Vive la France! Côte d'Azur The longing for sun traditionally leads to the Mediterranean in France. The Côte d'Azur stands for luxury and glamour; in the 19th century, holidays here were a privilege of the European aristocracy. Later came prominent artists and the international jet set. Today, everyone finds their favourite place between Marseille and Menton.

Vive la France! The Alps The Alps are located in the south-eastern French border region. The mountain range Mont Blanc massif attracts mountaineers from around the world. The Mont Blanc itself, with its 4,810 meters (15,777 ft.), is the highest peak of the Alps. The first recorded ascent to its summit in 1786 marked the birth of modern mountaineering. Today there are over 100 routes leading to the roof of France.

Vive la France! Pyrenees In the south-west of France, the Pyrenees form the border to Spain. The oversized racing bikes on the Col d'Aubisque (1,709 meters/5,607 ft.) pay homage to the fact that since 1951 this steep mountain pass has been part of the Tour de France cycle race. Those who manage to bike up here are really fit. Hikers can enjoy this mountain range from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic on the GR10 trail.

Vive la France! Loire Valley The Loire is the longest river in France. It winds its way over 1,020 kilometers (634 miles), from the Massif Central to the Atlantic. Nowhere else in Europe will you find so many castles in such a small area: 400 chateaux line the shores of Europe's last large wild river. One of the most famous is Chateau de Chambord (picture). The Loire Valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000.

Vive la France! Bretagne Holidays on the Atlantic are all about the elements. The Breton coast in the far west of France has a rugged beauty, wild and wind-swept. The ever changing weather is part of what makes this landscape so fascinating. After the Côte d'Azur, the Bretagne is the second most visited region in France.

Vive la France! Normandy Normandy experiences the strongest tides in Europe - measuring a difference of up to 14 meters (46 ft) between high and low water marks! Only a few times every year is this island completely surrounded by water. Mont-Saint-Michel with its Benedictine monastery is one of the most visited attractions in France. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

Vive la France! Côte d'Argent The name means "silver coast" and it refers to the Atlantic coast west of Bordeaux. 100 kilometers of fine, white sand which shimmers silver in the sunlight, promise dream holidays. Located in the centre of the coastline is Europe's tallest walk-able dune, the "Dune du Pilat." Its height varies from 100 to 117 meters. It is 500 meters wide and three kilometers long.

Vive la France! The vineyards between Bordeaux and the Alsace France makes hedonists happy. The quality of French wines sets the global benchmark. There are 14 wine-making regions, each with its own characteristics, promising a pleasurable wine-tasting trip from chateau to chateau. Many premium wines come from the area around Bordeaux.

Vive la France! Good food everywhere There are 600 Michelin star restaurants in France. The Alsace is a region which attracts many food lovers with its rich regional cuisine. To go out for a good meal here doesn't have to cost the earth. The food traditionally is rich and the portions large. So everyone from the picky gourmet to the hungry traveler will find something to their taste here.

Vive la France! The best baguette of Paris The baguette belongs to France like red wine and camembert. French President Emmanuel Macron now wants to work for the famous white baguette to be listed as an intangible UNESCO World Heritage Site. And Lamia M'Seddi from the bakery "2M" has won this year's Paris Baguette Prize and is allowed to supply the Elysee Palace for one year. Author: Anne Termèche



jm/rt (AFP, dpa, Reuters)