Berlin, 19.04.18: Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron at the Humboldt Forum, in the former Berlin Palace.
The Humboldt Forum is scheduled to open at the end of 2019. It is to house permanent exhibitions on European cultures.
The Italian architect Franco Stella designed the new building for the Humboldt Forum.
The visit to the Humboldt Forum was followed by talks.
Europe needs key decisions to be made in the near future to give the people answers to the major questions of our time, agreed Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.
On the way to the Federal Chancellery to discuss proposals for the reform of the EU
The focus was on key aspects of the European asylum system, common foreign policy and Economic and Monetary Union.
Should Germany and France have divergent views on these points, "open debate" and the "ability to compromise" will be needed.
Angela Merkel warned that Europe can only defend its interests by working together.
The two countries will be continuing talks on 19 June at the Franco-German Council of Ministers.