The new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has expressed his determination to play a “strong role” in Europe during his visit to the European institutions in Brussels on Friday.
He emphasised the importance of collective action, stating, “The challenges we face are so significant that we all know we can only overcome them together,” during a press conference alongside Ursula von der Leyen.
“Herzlich Willkommen, Friedrich!” the President of the European Commission warmly welcomed her fellow German. During a brief half-hour discussion, they addressed pressing issues within the EU, such as Europe’s competitiveness, relations with the United States, customs tariffs, support for Ukraine, and migration. Von der Leyen stressed that these matters must be addressed with an “urgent logic.”
Merz’s visit coincides with “Europe Day,” marking the 75th anniversary of Robert Schuman’s foundational declaration. The Chancellor expressed feeling “in continuity” with the political project of European integration, born from the desire to overcome Franco-German antagonism through the pooling of industries like coal and steel.
Belonging to the CDU, like Ursula von der Leyen, Merz aligned with the European Commission’s desire to reduce bureaucracy and simplify European legislation.
However, he went further by advocating for the outright removal of the corporate diligence directive, which enforces environmental and human rights standards across production chains. This directive was recently postponed by a year.
The 69-year-old conservative Chancellor stressed the need for a united front on trade policy, advocating for an agreement with the United States. He highlighted the urgency of enhancing European defence capabilities through standardisation and joint production. He also called for rapid progress in the capital markets union initiative.
Chancellor Merz’s arrival has sparked great hope in Europe, which is seeking a strong voice. Despite a turbulent start in the Bundestag—failing to secure election on the first ballot—Merz visited Paris and Warsaw on the first day of his mandate to demonstrate his commitment to strengthening ties with Germany’s major neighbours to the west and east.
In addition to meeting Ursula von der Leyen, the new German leader held talks with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Friday.
