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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 17 March 2018

Germany, France start work on 'road map' for EU future

PARIS (AP) — The German mit next week.
and French leaders started Macron laid out his pro-
working Friday toward what posals in September at the
French President Emmanuel Sorbonne University, calling
Macron said will be an "am- Europe slow, weak and in-
bitious, clear road map" for effective.
Europe's future, months af- He proposed a joint budget
ter Macron first laid out his for countries sharing the
proposals for reforming the euro currency that would
European Union. Macron allow investment in Euro-
hosted German Chancellor pean projects and help
Angela Merkel on her first stabilize the eurozone in
trip abroad after she was case of economic crisis. He
sworn in for a fourth term suggested greater harmo-
this week, ending months nization of EU tax policies
of postelection political — notably on corporate
drift in Germany. taxes, and taxing internet
The leaders showed soli- giants where they make
darity with Britain after the money and not where they
nerve agent attack on a are registered. To deal with
former Russian spy and his Europe's migrant influx, Ma-
daughter, which Western cron wants a European asy-
nations suspect Russia was lum agency and standard
behind. Merkel said the EU EU identity documents, and
is looking for "the most ap- in defense a shared Euro-
propriate response." pean military intervention
Germany and France have force and defense budget.
long played a key role as Germany has yet to re-
leading powers in the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron, left, welcomes Chancellor Angela Merkel prior to their spond in detail because it
which Macron wants to re- meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Friday, March 16, 2018. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a caretaker govern-
is heading to France to meet President Emmanuel Macron in her first trip abroad since her new
form dramatically, along government was sworn in. ment for several months
with the euro currency (AP Photo/Francois Mori) until this week.
union. "We're not always of the
Macron said a new vision most recently in Italy's elec- "We will propose an am- ucation and culture, Ma- same opinion ... but I think
for Europe is "indispensable" tion, and the Euroskepti- bitious, clear roadmap" cron said ahead of a din- we can advance togeth-
as the continent faces cism highlighted by Britain's covering everything from ner with Merkel. EU leaders er," Merkel said. "It's more
mounting populism, seen vote to leave the EU. defense to migration to ed- are to hold their next sum- necessary than ever."q

Putin urges voter turnout

ahead of Russian election

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV future for the great Rus-
MOSCOW (AP) — President sia that we all love." He
Vladimir Putin has urged warned that failure to cast
Russians to cast ballots in a ballot would mean that
Sunday's election, which "this decisive choice will be
he is certain to win, saying made without your opinion
that the vote will shape the taken into account."
country's future. On Friday, the final day of
Putin said in a televised ad- the campaign, he visited
dress Friday that "the will of a medical center in St. Pe-
the people, the will of each tersburg, his home city,
Russian citizen will deter- promising to modernize the
mine the path the country health care system.
will take." The president has traveled
The Russian leader, whose across Russia, pledging to
approval ratings top 80 raise wages, pour more
percent, is set to easily funds into crumbling health
win another six-year term care and education and
against seven challengers, modernize dilapidated in-
but the Kremlin has been frastructure.
concerned about voter He also has appealed to
apathy and has sought to national pride, pointing at
boost turnout to make Pu- Western sanctions against
tin's victory as impressive as Russia as a proof of ef-
possible. forts by the U.S. and its al-
Putin urged Russians to "use lies to isolate and weaken
their right to choose the Russia.q