Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron join forces in bid to become Europe's new powers

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron staged a joint press conference this afternoon, signifying they aim to be Europe's new powers.

The veteran German Chancellor and the new French president united at the end of a tetchy summit in a striking show of solidarity.

Mrs Merkel poured cold water on Theresa May's plans for Brexit, saying the latest discussions showed "we still have a long way to go yet".

Mr Macron was feted by other leaders at his first EU summit - although Poland and Hungary voiced concerns about his proposals, such as curbing migrant workers and accusing Central European states of seeing the EU as "a supermarket".

The symbolism of the Franco German axis asserting itself as Britain leaves pointed to greater worker protection and deeper integration.

Mrs Merkel seemed unimpressed by Theresa May's offer of "settled" status to three million Europeans in the U.K. They were not a "breakthrough" she said.

"That was a good beginning but - and I'm trying to word this very carefully - it was not a breakthrough.

"We have said we want to pursue this matter in good co-operation but what has come out yesterday was also that we still have a long way to go yet."

The German chancellor stressed her desire for unity with France over the Brexit situation, saying the two countries did not want a "wedge to be driven between us".

She added: "If there is no guarantee for the four freedoms then this exercise will have to lead to a situation where there are certain effects on the future relationship between the UK and the 27 member states.

"As far as we have understood, the British side there will not be the four freedoms, and we politically have to have a debate on this and have to find common solutions together with France."

Mr Macron said: "I fully agree upon what was said about the British position. As to the method, I expect some close co-operation between our two countries and a joint approach regarding Brexit."

It would be a matter for the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier to consider Mrs May's proposals on citizens' rights, Mr Macron added.

The German Chancellor stressed that the 27 other members of the EU were now focusing on its future rather than discussions about the UK's withdrawal.

She said it was clear that "the work of the 27 member states - as we will be in the future - should be given priority over the Brexit negotiations," she said.

"This does not mean that we will not pursue these negotiations very intensively, but this has brought home to us how much we have to look into our own future and how to prepare our own future."