German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron on June 19, 2018, at the Meseberg Palace, northeastern Germany, before holding a ministerial conference to coordinate European reform proposals ahead of EU summit on June 28-29, 2018. German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted French President Emmanuel Macron on June 19, 2018 to hammer out reforms that can stop the "disintegration" of the European Union, torn by populist forces and deep discord over immigration. / AFP PHOTO / ludovic MARIN