berlin french president emmanuel macron propose european reform play big role talk german chancellor angela merkel conservatives form government center-left social democrats spd top spd member say german foreign minister sigmar gabriel lead party step aside early year make way former european parliament president martin schulz say support macron call separate budget eurozone ready invest future gabriel tell germany funke newspaper group french newspaper ouest-france interview publish saturday germany big winner eu afford contribute gabriel say macron proposals reform european union would important coalition talk due begin jan. merkel fail reach agreement two small party say enthusiastic macron core idea strengthen eu make global player spd initially hop go opposition suffer bad election losses post-war era persuade enter negotiations conservatives avoid new elections merkel early month give strong endorsement macron proposals germany hamstring take decisive action concrete proposals new government place merkel say saw promise areas common grind social democrats future europe urge speedy action work eu reform next european elections 2019. week say want initial coalition deal spd mid-january macron hop make progress germany ideas reform eurozone march germany new coalition government place goal agree roadmap eurozone leaders june gabriel also call eu adopt program would encourage communities poor member state accept migrants offer financial assistance macron 's europe reform focus german coalition talk gabriel