Friedrich Merz promises a “restart for Europe” – DiePresse.com
The new German Chancellor wants to re -enact security policy with France, Poland and Great Britain. The Russian war against Ukraine is not the only nail test of its ambitions.
Berlin-Paris-Warschau-Berlin: On his first day in the office of Chancellor, Friedrich Merz flew down the sides of the triangle that is at the center of his European political strategy. Founded in 1991, this “Weimar triangle” is intended to help each other coordinate the perspectives in the state chancellery of Germany, France and Poland. Since then, that has worked better, sometimes less well – and finally, in the four and a half years under Merz ‘predecessor, Olaf Scholz, particularly bad. Neither with France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, nor with Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, Scholz found the interpersonal chemistry that is irreplaceable for the success of great European projects.
And Merz carried such a big vision on Thursday on his first two working trips as a chancellor. « Macron and I have agreed a Franco-German restart for Europe, » he said after the meeting in the Élysée-Palast. « We will deepen the collaboration at all levels and develop other formats. »
Key topic Ukraine
A common Franco-German security council should come together regularly to discuss key questions of security and defense policy regularly, added Macron. One of the first problems of which the new Franco-German duo has to take on is the Russian war against Ukraine. « We will work together for a fair and permanent peace. We will provide reliable security guarantees for Ukraine together, » said Merz in Paris.
He didn’t get more specific, but he will soon have to answer the Gretchen question: Who should station troops on Ukrainian soil to monitor any, currently only hypothetically imaginable ceasefire? So far, the friends of Ukraine in NATO (de facto all members, minus USA, Hungary and Türkiye) have not been able to agree on this. At most, a single-digit number of NATO countries are currently ready to send soldiers to Ukraine for this purpose. Without the United States participation, such a peace -assured mission is impossible, the consensus is practically all states.
In any case, Merz states on the line that Ukraine must be militarily as strong as possible in order to be able to force the Kremlin to close the negotiating table for a fair peace. This in turn presupposes increased armor tasks in all Member States, as he once more emphasized on Thursday.
Raw eggs with Trump
Merz ‘European political projects require that the latent hostility of the US government under President Donald Trump sinks to the EU. In an interview with ZDF, Merz criticized « absurd considerations of the Federal Republic of Germany » on Tuesday that the government in Washington is currently spreading. In doing so, he alluded to State Minister Marco Rubio and other government officials, according to which the dealing with the AfD, which, according to the protection of the constitution was to be assessed as « secured right -wing extremist », is a sign of the « tyranny » of the Federal Republic. A phone call between Merz and Trump was planned for Thursday. He has not yet known him personally, but will « openly » talk to him, Merz announced.
However, Merz has to be careful on raw eggs when dealing with Washington. The Customs World War, which Trump has proclaimed, hits the German car manufacturer, which was already struck. The 25 percent customs on the import of European cars and auto spare parts has de facto from the American market. On the other hand, they operate some factories in the USA, BMW is, for example, the largest exporter of vehicles manufactured in the United States.
Pressure on Israel
Merz will also have to prove sensitivity in dealing with another global political fire. Already on Saturday, the new Foreign Minister, Johann WadePhul, will travel to Israel to request the government there to comply with its humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Germany stands « without ifs and buts » to Israel, emphasized Merz.
In a television interview, he also said that Israel had the right to defend himself against « the brutal attack of the Hamas terrorists ». But the country is « worried » because it must be clear that « humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip must be provided. »
After visiting Warsaw, Merz will meet the President of the European Council on Friday in Brussels António Costa, the President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. In Brussels, the new Chancellor, who fulfilled his first political mandate from 1989 to 1994 as a member of the European Member, will have to do nails.
Brussels revelation
Because in June the Commission will publish its proposal for the EU financial framework from 2028 to 2034. Germany has always been against the admission of common debts, but such Eurobonds are persistently challenged by countries such as Spain and France in order to achieve the political goals of the Union – from upgrading to reintustrialization. In this context, the repayment of the debts for the Corona reuptoduction will require a further fundamental decision from Merz: higher membership fees-or new own financial sources for the EU?
Potential for conflict is also lurking in trade policy. In Paris, Merz emphasized how important the ratification of the Mercosur agreement was for the EU. However, his new strategic partner clearly rejects this from domestic political consideration for the French agricultural lobby.
