The French president was intent on a “historic reconstruction of Europe and the eurozone” in a bid to make the sprawling institution more representative of its disillusioned citizens who have faced a decade of unprecedented financial and immigration problems.
Some critics have welcomed Mr Macron’s plan as a serious attempt, perhaps the last serious attempt, to reform the EU and make it more accountable to the peoples of Europe.
But French government spokesman Christophe Castaner said yesterday that the collapse of German coalition talks earlier this week had dealt a significant blow to Macron’s ambitious plans for EU reform.
Mr Castaner, who is also the head of the president’s Republic on the Move (LREM) party, said during a cabinet meeting: “A weakened Germany could represent a major blow to our European ambitions and to France.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s failure to form a three-way government with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the ecologist Greens on Sunday threw the country into political chaos, and cast doubt over her future and ability to maintain stability.
The FDP unexpectedly pulled out of the talks after four weeks of negotiations, citing irreconcilable differences. Mrs Merkel, for her part, said that she would rather a new election than ruling with a minority.
Mr Castaner added that France was “not at all thrilled” about the collapse of exploratory talks to form a new German government.
He said: “Germany must try to find solutions to pull itself out of this political limbo – but it is not France’s role to meddle in its neighbour’s internal affairs.”
A “wobbly” Germany is not in France’s best interests, Mr Castaner added and said: “It is not in French interests to see its main European partner destabilised, and we therefore support all political solutions that will help prevent instability in Germany.”
Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for his part, told the warring parties earlier this week that they owed it to voters to try to form a new government.
Mr Macron’s plans for deeper integration of the eurozone include provision of an astronomical shared cross-EU budget and finance minister to look after it.
But Christian Lindner, leader of the right wing FDP in Germany, remains fiercely critical of Mr Macron’s ideas for the Eurozone.
He said German taxpayers feared a more integrated eurozone with its own budget meant Germany would pick up the tab for the unpaid bills of other states, naming France and Italy.
He said: “That for us, is unimaginable.”
Mr Macron said reform is vital, not least to stem the rise of far-right parties across Europe – but he cannot move without Germany’s agreement.