Foreign
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said it was time for the European Union to collaborate more closely, considering the global shifts in power and tensions that were shaping the current agenda.
Speaking during a budget debate in front of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, Merkel said the EU should now focus on developing a stronger bond.
She said the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China and the “geostrategic reinvigoration” of Russia as well as Britain’s planned exit from the EU would have profound consequences, for which the EU needed to prepare.
Merkel also said she still believed it was possible for Britain to leave the EU with a deal by Oct. 31.
The German chancellor also said the bloc needed to improve technologically, and that Europe was lagging behind regarding certain important technology developments.
Merkel praised European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen’s new line-up, which she presented in Brussels on Tuesday.
She said the new commission was “globally oriented” and that it would strengthen Europe’s position in the world.
Concerning the U.S. demand that Germany increase its defence spending for NATO to two per cent of GDP, Merkel said Germany would keep its promise to move closer towards that goal.
She added that the EU also planned to strengthen its joint defence policies. (dpa/NAN)
– Sept. 11, 2019 @ 11:59 GMT |
Tags: Europe needs more close collaboration – Merkel
