German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said that, even with the relatively EU‑skeptical stance of the new Czech government, he still expects a good partnership. “Germany and the Czech Republic are close partners and that should remain so” Merz told reporters at the Chancellery on Tuesday after meeting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
He added that the two leaders had agreed to go into more detail on several bilateral projects. “We’ll commission teams to look again at transport initiatives and joint energy projects, examine them carefully, and push them forward” Merz explained. The visit by Babis, he said, marks the beginning of a productive cooperation between the two countries.
Babis, meanwhile, affirmed that the economic ties between Germany and the Czech Republic are “excellent”. He criticized the EU emissions trading system (ETS), which he said is increasingly becoming a target for speculation. Speaking to the same reporter, Merz said Germany is fundamentally committed to the ETS but may need to adjust the instrument. He added that the matter would be discussed again at an upcoming EU summit.
Babis is in his second term as Czech Prime Minister, having taken office for the second time at the start of December 2025. The billionaire, often described as a right‑wing populist, heads an EU‑skeptical coalition.