The detailed riposte to the French leader’s letter was unusual because it was authored by a politician who, while mooted as Angela Merkel’s likely successor, does not hold a post in the German government. Germany’s Social Democratic party, junior partners in Merkel’s current government, on Monday criticised the CDU leader’s restraint on the social policy dimension of Macron’s proposal. Nonetheless, some fundamental policy differences on Europe were evident, the paper said. “AKK shares the view of the French president that Europe must act urgently” in the face of multiple threats, it observed. “The message seems to be: if more Europe, then through an intergovernmental approach.

Source: The Guardian March 11, 2019 17:26 UTC