German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Highlights Economic Competitiveness at European Council Meeting
In his first appearance at the European Council, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized economic competitiveness as a key topic of discussion. Speaking in Brussels on Thursday morning, just before the meeting began, the Chancellor expressed support for the European Commission’s efforts to make progress on this issue.
Merz also voiced his backing for the EU Commission’s endeavors to swiftly conclude a trade agreement with the United States. He further expressed his intention to advance the Mercosur trade agreement and negotiate additional pacts. The Chancellor characterized the current period as a crucial time for Europe, with decisive weeks and months ahead.
In addition, Merz mentioned a wide range of other topics, including the aftermath of the previous day’s NATO meeting and the resulting implications for the European Union. Notably, he did not address the topic of Russian sanctions, an issue that is likely to be the subject of ongoing discussions, as not all EU member states are willing to follow suit.