German Chancellor Angela Merkel has endorsed the idea of a joint European aircraft carrier.

Leader of Christian Democratic Union in Germany, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, made the proposal in a weekend response to the French President’s proposals for European reform.

Germany and France are already working together on a future European combat aircraft.

Karrenbauer said, “The next step could be to start on the symbolic project of building a common European aircraft carrier” to underline what the EU calls its global security role.”

Merkel said Monday, according to Reuters, that “it’s right and good that we have such equipment on the European side, and I’m happy to work on it”.

In October 2018, the French Ministry of Defence launched an 18-month study for €40 million for the eventual future replacement of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle beyond 2030.