Merkel, Macron Plan Roadmap on Eurozone Reform

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday pledged to overcome differences to formulate a roadmap for a reform of the eurozone which they will seek to get approved by their European peers in June.

Merkel, who was narrowly reelected to a fourth term as chancellor, wants to fulfill her incoming government’s pledge to deliver a “new start” for Europe. Macron, too, has made eurozone overhaul a central goal since taking power last May, Reuters reported. However, members of Merkel’s conservative bloc are wary of more comprehensive European integration, especially if it means that Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, would be pooling risks and debts with other, less financially stable countries.

The goal of the reform push has to be to stabilize the 19-country eurozone and improve its competitiveness of the single currency bloc, Merkel said, adding that it must also provide for more convergence on asylum policies.