🇫🇷 Macron seeks joint defence force under EU reforms

The French president called for a joint EU defence force as part of his vision for the future of the bloc.

The nationalist AfD won its first seats in the German parliament, while Angela Merkel - a key ally of Mr Macron - was re-elected for a fourth term as chancellor amid falling support.

In a major speech at the Sorbonne university in Paris, Mr Macron said he wanted the European Union to have "autonomous capacity for action" through a joint military force.

In his other key proposals, Mr Macron said the EU should: Strengthen borders and protect the "sovereignty" of member states against uncontrolled migrant flows - speeding up asylum applications, setting up a central asylum office to hold background files, and helping countries where immigrants come from to stabilise their economies.

However, the German chancellor is expected to try government with the Free Democratic Party (FDP), whose leader is an outspoken critic of Macron's European agenda.

UCJ, UNILORIN.