Angela Merkel told business leaders in Berlin on Tuesday that she was open to reforms, saying the economic cohesion of the 19 countries in the euro area "leaves something to be desired."

"We could of course consider a common finance minister, if the conditions are right," and if there is a proper balance concerning risk and liability for debt, the chancellor said in a speech at the annual congress held by Germany's largest industrial lobby, the BDI (the Federation of German Industries). 

"We could also consider a euro-budget if it is clear that we are really strengthening the structure of the economy," she said. "We shouldn't say what is not possible, but rather consider what makes sense."

Recently elected French President Emmanuel Macron has advocated strongly for such reforms, arguing that the euro currency bloc is in desperate need of a shakeup. He says the group should have a separate budget, as well as its own parliament and finance minister. The European Commission has also put forward similar proposals.

Bilateral reform program

BDI President Dieter Kempf told the conference that he was in favor of a common budget and finance minister if such measures were "designed properly." He said such reforms could help tackle problems early on and reduce the likelihood of a genuine economic crisis.

But the leader of Germany's Free Democratic Party, Christian Lindner, was more skeptical. He questioned the need for a separate budget, saying there were already structural assistance funds to support weaker EU members. He also voiced concerns that Macron's proposal would lead to the eurozone setting up its own taxation regime as well. Green Party head Cem Özdemir called for a European Monetary Fund to better assist weaker regions in the EU.

Germany and France - the eurozone's largest economies - agreed last month to set up a bilateral panel to launch the currency area's reform process. The new working group, expected to report to a ministerial meeting in July, will look at how the bloc can better coordinate economic policies and harmonize its tax regime.

Merkel is running for a fourth term in Germany's September general election, while Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20. The chancellor told business leaders in Berlin that she would fight for a free-trade deal between Europe and the US at next month's G20 summit in Hamburg, but admitted that Donald Trump's "America first" approach to trade negotiations wouldn't make it easy.

"We will do everything to achieve as broad an agreement as possible on this in Hamburg," Merkel said. "In view of the new American administration that isn't easy, but we must make the effort nonetheless."

nm/msh (AFP, Reuters, AP)