Macron Vision Runs Into EU Realpolitik as Merkel Holds Back

The European Union‘s newest leader, full of fresh ideas and an idealistic vision for the 28-nation club, was met with a tepid reception on Thursday night from his EU counterparts. They included Angela Merkel, the bloc‘s longest-serving government chief, who must now pay attention to the views of potential coalition partners, and who, according to officials briefed on the evening‘s conversation, may not form a government until December at the earliest.

Macron‘s speech laying out his vision of deepening EU ties set the stage for the dinner in Tallinn, Estonia, one of the EU‘s smallest capitals and just 130 miles from the Russian border. The French leader‘s address „contained important building blocks,“ Merkel told reporters before sitting down with her peers, „but we still have to talk about the details.“