Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday. Photo: DPAFreshly elected French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are the new power couple leading the charge against anti-European populists and trying to put the struggling EU back on track, analysts say. "Before thinking about reform of the EU, France has to restore its partners' confidence in it and provide guarantees on the budget," said Charles de Marcilly of the Robert Schuman Foundation. 'Encourage Macron'At the same time, Merkel will not want to press her new partner too hard, analysts said. Merkel on Monday said at a joint press conference with Macron that she was even prepared to consider the long-taboo option of EU treaty change "if it makes sense."

Source: The Local May 17, 2017 06:56 UTC