Franco-German risk fund could be set up in weeks if political will - source

Migrants queue on a bridge crossing the border river Inn at the German-Austrian frontier between Braunau and Simbach am Inn near Passau, Germany November 1, 2015. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

PARIS (Reuters) - A 10 billion euro (7 billion pound) Franco-German fund to pay for tighter security, external border controls and caring for refugees could be set up within weeks if there is enough political will, a source close to the French economy minister said on Tuesday.

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and his German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, have proposed setting up the fund in a letter to President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron said in Berlin on Monday.