France’s President Emmanuel Macron has called for closer ties between his country and Germany, saying Europe “has the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos”.

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

In a speech to Germany’s parliament, he said Europe must not “become a plaything of great powers”.

Mr Macron wants a more integrated EU, with a joint eurozone budget.

He also wants Germany’s backing for a European Army, which he has said would reduce the bloc’s dependence on the US, and a new tax on internet tech giants.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed tentative support for some of these ideas, but others are controversial in Berlin.

‘Our true strength lies in unity’
The French leader spoke of nationalist forces “with no memory”, and urged progressive forces to unite in an uncertain world.

“There are too many powers that wish to thwart us, that interfere in our public debates, attack our liberal democracies and are trying to pit us against each other,” he said. “And in this global order, which we have to take very seriously, our strength – our true strength – lies in unity.”

US President Donald Trump was moved to a Twitter tirade by similar remarks from Mr Macron a week ago, when the French leader called nationalism a “betrayal of patriotism” while commemorating the end of World War One.
BBC