World Bulletin / News Desk

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron presided Thursday over a joint cabinet meeting aimed at underscoring Franco-German resolve to kick-start the European Union. 

Macron was elected in May promising to overhaul the 28-member bloc with a host of initiatives to deepen EU integration in the areas of defence, security and immigration.

The 39-year-old French leader is keen to revive the traditional "engine" behind European integration -- the post-war alliance of Paris and Berlin which ended centuries of conflict.

But with less than three months before Germany's legislative elections, it will be difficult for Paris and Berlin to move ahead on key issues such as the reform of the eurozone.

The French leader has proposed creating a finance minister, parliament and budget for the eurozone, which would require changes to EU treaties.

"I want the eurozone to have more coherence and convergence," Macron said in the Ouest-France interview.