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France's Fillon Says Will Outline EU Plans to Merkel

by Reuters

   PARIS --

   French conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon said on
   Tuesday he would meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the coming
   days to outline his plans for Europe.

   "The election of Donald Trump and the Berlin tragedy change things in
   Europe," Fillon said, referring both to the U.S. election and the
   Berlin truck attack claimed by Islamic State.

   "For the United States, our continent will likely not be a priority
   anymore and for Germany, a certain idea of pacifism is gone," said
   Fillon, the favorite in opinion polls for the April and May
   presidential election.

   "France must seize this opportunity to re-mobilize the European Union
   around strategic priorities: our collective security, defense,
   innovation and the re-tightening of the euro zone," he said, before
   adding he would meet Merkel in the coming days "to spell out to her my
   orientations for Europe."