Sarkozy Calls for EU Reforms Irrespective of Brexit Vote

Sarkozy met German Chancellor Angela Merkel, June 21, and said:

"I told the chancellor that to save Europe, there would have to be a French-German initiative in the coming months, with a new treaty that tells 450 million Europeans that we have heard what they are saying, that we understand how they feel."

Both Germany and France are holding elections next year, and Merkel — along with French President Francois Hollande — is facing growing anti-EU sentiment, because of the migrant crisis and troubles within the Eurozone. 

Crises in Europe

The European migrant crisis has thrown one of the central pillars of the EU — that of freedom of movement of people —  into chaos. The Schengen zone was set up to remove all border controls within member states — which excludes the UK and Ireland.

However, following the huge increase in migrants crossing the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea and through the West Balkan route, many countries have erected razor wire fences or border controls to stem the flow.

The discovery that the outer Schengen borders were full of holes has led to calls for a fundamental reforms of the Schengen area and for the establishment of a bigger and more effective border force and coastguard agency.

The Eurozone is in trouble, with Greece struggling to meet the terms of its third bailout and both Spain and Portugal under warning for breaching debt targets. 

Sarkozy's comments come at a time when both Merkel and Hollande know that — even if the UK remains in the EU — the British referendum has triggered a huge rise in anti-Brussels sentiment. The failure to secure agreement over a common immigrations policy and the difficulties in the Eurozone will bring further calls for fundamental reforms of the institutions of the EU.