Europe must unite to avoid global chaos, says French President

The French president, Emmanuel Macron has said that there is a need for a stronger Europe to avoid the world “slipping into chaos”.

Macron is in Berlin for the country's annual day of mourning for victims of war.

Giving a speech in the Bundestag in Berlin, Macron made a plea to the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to support a range of reforms to strengthen Europe.

“Europe and, within it, the Franco-German couple have the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos and to guide it on the road to peace,” Macron told the German parliament. “That’s why Europe must be stronger... and win more sovereignty.”

The speech was the latest in a number of moves designed to demonstrate a joint front between France and Germany. The traditionally strong relationship has improved in response to threats to European unity, including Brexit and Donald Trump, who has made no secret of his antagonism towards the EU.

Macron, the first French president to address the Bundestag in 18 years, called for greater European unity in order for the bloc to meet future challenges in an uncertain world. He said Europe must not “become a plaything of great powers, must assume greater responsibility for its security and its defence, and must not accept a subordinate role in world politics”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed tentative support for some of these ideas, but others are controversial in Berlin.

"You made clear with an impressive speech how important the German-Franco friendship and co-operation is, and what role it plays in the European context. You said we are at a crossroads... and this is exactly what I perceive. Those of us born after the war are responsible for the lessons that we learned," Merkel told Macron before the two headed into a meeting to discuss a range of policy challenges.