This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/28/merkel-and-macron-tensions-rise-over-eu-leader-roles
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Merkel and Macron tensions rise over EU top jobs | Merkel and Macron tensions rise over EU top jobs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Franco-German tensions over who will run the EU’s institutions have been played out in public as Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron arrived at a meeting of leaders in Brussels. | |
| The two leaders are divided over the claim of Manfred Weber, the candidate nominated as European commission president by the German chancellor’s political group, the European People’s party (EPP). | The two leaders are divided over the claim of Manfred Weber, the candidate nominated as European commission president by the German chancellor’s political group, the European People’s party (EPP). |
| “I support Manfred Weber,” Merkel told reporters on her way into the summit, adding that she hoped for a decision by the 28 EU leaders before July when the newly elected European parliament is due to sit. “I will appeal this evening for us to show an ability to act.” | “I support Manfred Weber,” Merkel told reporters on her way into the summit, adding that she hoped for a decision by the 28 EU leaders before July when the newly elected European parliament is due to sit. “I will appeal this evening for us to show an ability to act.” |
| The French president, whose La République En Marche (La Rem) gained 22 seats during last week’s elections, and joins an enlarged and emboldened liberal group in parliament, offered a thinly veiled critique of the German MEP who has never held a government position. | The French president, whose La République En Marche (La Rem) gained 22 seats during last week’s elections, and joins an enlarged and emboldened liberal group in parliament, offered a thinly veiled critique of the German MEP who has never held a government position. |
| Macron insisted that the replacements for Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, as presidents of the commission and council, required “experience and credibility to enable them to carry out these missions”. | Macron insisted that the replacements for Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, as presidents of the commission and council, required “experience and credibility to enable them to carry out these missions”. |
| “Today I do not want names to be talked about, names to be attacked; I think we have to take into account what came out of the polls, what the European people have expressed and we must also have decision-makers who have the credibility to be able to act,” he said. | “Today I do not want names to be talked about, names to be attacked; I think we have to take into account what came out of the polls, what the European people have expressed and we must also have decision-makers who have the credibility to be able to act,” he said. |
| 'Spectres of the past': Angela Merkel sounds alarm over antisemitism | 'Spectres of the past': Angela Merkel sounds alarm over antisemitism |
| The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has not declared himself a candidate for commission president but has been on a tour of capitals in recent months giving speeches on his vision of Europe. | The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has not declared himself a candidate for commission president but has been on a tour of capitals in recent months giving speeches on his vision of Europe. |
| Frans Timmermans, the former Dutch foreign minister, a vice-president of Juncker’s commission, is the lead candidate of the Socialists and Democrats group, the second largest in the European parliament after the EPP. | |
| Asked about Margrethe Vestager, the former Danish finance minister who is a candidate for commission president from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe political group, Macron agreed she had the relevant strengths. | Asked about Margrethe Vestager, the former Danish finance minister who is a candidate for commission president from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe political group, Macron agreed she had the relevant strengths. |
| “Like Mr Barnier, as Mr Timmermans, people who have precisely these skills but I do not want today to have a debate on the names, I want to have a debate about the project, priorities and criteria,” Macron said. | “Like Mr Barnier, as Mr Timmermans, people who have precisely these skills but I do not want today to have a debate on the names, I want to have a debate about the project, priorities and criteria,” Macron said. |
| Ahead of outgoing UK prime minister Theresa May taking her seat at the leaders’ dinner to discuss the distribution of EU posts, she held talks with Tusk. | Ahead of outgoing UK prime minister Theresa May taking her seat at the leaders’ dinner to discuss the distribution of EU posts, she held talks with Tusk. |
| A government spokesman said: “[May] will use this as an opportunity to update President Tusk about her announcement on Friday that she will be stepping down as prime minister.” | A government spokesman said: “[May] will use this as an opportunity to update President Tusk about her announcement on Friday that she will be stepping down as prime minister.” |
| On the UK’s approach to the EU posts, the spokesman added: “As agreed at the council meeting in April, as long as the UK remains in the EU, we will continue to be a full member state with all the rights and obligations that entails. | On the UK’s approach to the EU posts, the spokesman added: “As agreed at the council meeting in April, as long as the UK remains in the EU, we will continue to be a full member state with all the rights and obligations that entails. |
| “We recognise the UK’s status as a departing member state and will continue to be as constructive a partner as possible and abide by the principle of sincere cooperation – and this issue is no exception.” | “We recognise the UK’s status as a departing member state and will continue to be as constructive a partner as possible and abide by the principle of sincere cooperation – and this issue is no exception.” |
| European Union | European Union |
| Europe | Europe |
| Angela Merkel | Angela Merkel |
| Emmanuel Macron | Emmanuel Macron |
| Germany | Germany |
| France | France |
| Margrethe Vestager | Margrethe Vestager |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |