15 July, 2017
Before Trump's arrival, Macron welcomed Merkel for a joint cabinet meeting between their governments, according to RFE/RL. Merkel said that she's also open to measures including a euro-area budget and an expanded role for the bloc's financial rescue fund.
"We agree that the eurozone must be stabilized and further developed", Merkel added.
Among the key differences separating Europe and the United States is Trump's decision last month to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, his perceived tilt toward Russian Federation, and criticism of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union. Macron is pushing an ambitious program of liberalizing France's labor market and cutting taxes to revive growth, partly to win German trust.
Mr Trump irritated European Union leaders during his election campaign a year ago by hailing Brexit and suggesting other countries might follow Britain out of the 28-nation bloc.
Merkel said that while last week's G-20 summit saw some common ground with the United States-on fighting terrorism, for example-"we also had to name clear differences, for instance, regrettably, the difference on whether we need the Paris climate accord or not".
She added: "We did not paper over these differences, but nevertheless contact, the ability to speak is of course important".
Trump arrived later in Paris, greeted by Macron at the the Invalides, the building that houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. "I've discussed it with him and with the chancellor", the French president said.
The two countries made a decision to work more on European security cooperation, announcing that their defense industries would work together to design the next generation fighter plane, due around 2035.
Britain was a main participant in the Eurofighter consortium that built the Typhoon.
"It is a revolution", Macron said of the warplane plans.
"This is a revolution, but we're not afraid of revolutions when they are peaceful, well-thought and meant to last", Macron said. "I have nothing against a eurozone budget (and) we can talk about creating a European finance minister", Merkel said. She said private investment throughout the European Union must also be "unlocked".
There were no immediate public comments by Trump and Macron.
