Angela Merkel reclaims role of EU anchor in outline of 2018 agenda

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she’ll team up with France to hold the EU together and pledged to form her next government “without delay.”

In a New Year’s Eve speech to the nation, Merkel outlined a vision for her fourth term that includes an alliance with French President Macron to strengthen Europe’s economic clout and control migration, while upholding values of tolerance and pluralism within the EU and abroad.

“27 countries in Europe must be impelled more strongly than ever to remain a community,” Merkel said. “That will be the decisive question of the next few years. Germany and France want to work together to make it succeed.”


The chancellor sought to put her stamp on the political debate after a poll this week suggested Germans increasingly don’t want her to serve another full term. Merkel, 63, said she’s committed to forming “a stable government for Germany without delay in the new year”.