Macron for reconstruction of Europe

The newly elected France president, Emmanuel Macron, has called for a "historic reconstruction" of Europe, saying it is "the only reaction" to fight populism, reported British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Speaking in Berlin on the first full day of his presidency, he was joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel said the pair had a "joint conviction" that they needed to "deepen the European Union", said the BBC report.

Both said they would work together more closely on defence, eurozone reform and reducing bureaucracy.

Merkel said the EU depended on France being strong, and that she and Mr Macron had a "joint conviction that we are not only going to deal with the British exit from the European Union, but we also need to deepen the EU", the report added.

Click BBC to read the original report.