Merkel faces demand for further EU integration as price to end government crisis

ngela Merkel faces demands for sweeping European Union reform and further integration as the price of a new coalition government in Germany, it emerged on Friday. Martin Schulz, the leader of the rival Social Democrats (SPD), told an interview with Spiegel magazine he would insist on deeper integration as a condition of joining any new government under Mrs Merkel.In particular, he said he would demand German support for Emmanuel Macron’s proposals for a Brussels-based finance minister and single budget for the Eurozone.“Germany’s European politics must change,” Mr Schulz, a former president of the European parliament, told the magazine.“A positive response to Emmanuel Macron will be a key demand in any negotiation with the SPD.”He also called for common EU tax and welfare policies. “We need a fresh start in the EU,” he said.The interview was published as Mr Schulz denied reports that his party was ready to enter negotiations of forming a new coalition on Friday, and accused Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) of leaking false information to the media.Mr Schulz and Mrs Merkel met on Thursday night to discuss a possible new coalition or SPD support for a minority government, and initial reports suggested the talks had gone well.

 

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