New European Order: Angela Merkel pledges to shape EU future in GERMANY'S image
ANGELA Merkel has refused to give up on her ambitious plans for the European Union and has pledged to push forward her relaunch plans.
Merkel pledges to rebrand Europe with Macron
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will use close cooperation with Emmanuel Macron to restart the European Union and shape the continent's future.
Mrs Merkel doubled down in her commitment to the European project in remarks to voters on the campaign trail.
She told an audience of cheering supporters over the weekend that Germany and France will drive through close integration and transform the EU bloc.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she will use close cooperation with Emmanuel Macron
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The Chancellor was speaking in Aachen, where she finished her party's campaign ahead of the last state election on Sunday before the nationwide vote in September.
The CDU saw a strong surge of support in Germany's most populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia on Sunday, which is home to one in five German voters and has often been a national trend-setter in elections.
The day after the result, the German leader will meet with Mr Macron, a fellow europhile.
The French president will holds talks with her in Berlin a day after his inauguration
She told an audience of cheering supporters that Germany and France will drive through reforms
Merkel faces a tough electoral contest tomorrow
We will do everything not only to help France but also to shape the future European path with France
The French president will holds talks with her in Berlin a day after his own inauguration, with the aim of the talks to relaunch the European project.
Mrs Merkel told the audience: "We will do everything not only to help France but also to shape the future European path with France.
"We are happy that Mark Rutte and Emmanuel Macron, people who make efforts for Europe, won their elections.
"We will lead the new European project together and shape its future through our cooperation."
The pledge to restart and relaunch the European project comes as experts believe the wave of anti-EU populism has peaked.