Merkel warns: EU risks sliding into “nationalism”
May 6, 2016
At a joint press-conference with Italian PM Matteo Renzi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the EU risks sliding into “nationalism” if it fails to secure its external borders against an immense wave of refugees. Merkel’s call coincides with reports that Berlin is pushing to establish a Germany-led EU army. The talks in Rome took place only a few days after a defense white paper was leaked suggesting that Berlin has renewed its push to create common European armed forces, with Germany taking a leading role.
“German security policy has relevance – also for beyond our country. Germany is willing to join early, decisively and substantially as a driving force in international debates… to take responsibility and assume leadership,” reads the paper, obtained by the Financial Times.