The European Union must develop a response to growing global political and economic pressures and this will be the spirit of an EU summit this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.
Merkel pointed to the crisis in Syria and the growing importance of Asian economies as needing a European response.
“More than ever we need European answers to the pressing, big questions of our time,” she told Germany’s Bundestag lower house of parliament.
French President Emmanuel Macron in September offered an ambitious vision for Europe, but has had to wait for a response from EU powerhouse Germany, with much on hold in Berlin as Merkel attempts to cement a governing coalition.
In her remarks to the Bundestag, Merkel made clear that the future of the European Union would be a top priority in her fourth term as chancellor, provided the coalition between her conservatives and the pro-European Social Democrats (SPD) goes ahead.
“It is no coincidence that the first chapter of the coalition agreement is on Europe”.
The parties have agreed on a deal but SPD members are voting to approve it, with the result due March 4.
Merkel also said the forthcoming debate about a new budget for the 27-member bloc after Brexit was an opportunity to rethink the system.