FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron talk to the media as they arrive at an extraordinary European Union leaders summit to discuss Brexit, in Brussels, Belgium April 10, 2019. REUTERS/Eva Plevier/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday Franco-German friendship should not mean Paris should always see eye to eye with Berlin and that disagreements with Germany’s Angela Merkel over Brexit and relations with the United States were necessary.

“This compromise culture is very important - and I learnt a lot on that from Chancellor Merkel,” Macron told reporters in a news conference.

“But it should not prevent the affirmation of a (distinct) French position when there is one,” he said, adding that “fruitful confrontation” was sometimes necessary to build compromise.

“So yes, on Brexit, we’re not exactly on the same line. On climate and energy policies, we’re not exactly on the same line.”