Friedrich Merz takes the helm in Brussels with a promising start, vowing to tackle trade deals, de-escalate US tariffs, curb migration, and strengthen Europe’s defense posture.
German politics has a new face with the election of Friedrich Merz as chancellor. His inaugural visit to Brussels was a lightning-fast affair, involving meetings with top European leaders.
Friedrich Merz is a German politician who has served as the Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2021.
Born in 1955, Merz began his career in politics in the late 1980s, serving as a member of the Bundestag from 1994 to 2009.
He was previously the party's General Secretary and has held various leadership positions within the CDU.
Merz is known for his conservative views and has been a vocal critic of Angela Merkel's immigration policies.
Merz made his priorities unmistakably clear: supporting new trade deals, de-escalating the tariff standoff with the US, curbing irregular migration, and strengthening Europe’s defense posture. He emphasized that problems can only be tackled together, echoing the sentiments of European Council President Antonio Costa.
Leadership is what we need, as Karel Lannoo of the Brussels-based Center for European Policy Studies pointed out after years of hesitation following the implosion of the German traffic-light coalition in November last year. Merz echoed this urgency during his visit, stressing the need for more efficiency and a pragmatic approach to joint procurement and shared arms development.
”America is indispensable for Europe’s security, now and for the long term,” Merz said alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He expressed hope that the upcoming NATO summit in June would result in a ‘shared strategy’ with Washington. Rutte agreed, emphasizing that stronger European defense depended on Germany being more assertive and better equipped.
Merz also discussed migration policies with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. While international partners welcomed this move as a step toward European strategic autonomy, reactions at home were far more mixed. Critics in Germany have accused Merz of abandoning the country’s long-standing fiscal orthodoxy.
Migration could become the real political flashpoint. Merz has placed it high on his agenda, announcing a ‘de facto entry ban’ for migrants without proper documents from the very first day of his chancellorship. This unilateral declaration triggered concern across Europe due to its apparent contravention of European law and fears of undermining the Schengen zone.
Friedrich Merz positioned himself as a consensus-builder rather than a solo actor, revealing that US President Donald Trump had invited him to Washington for further trade talks. He emphasized that any negotiations must involve all 27 EU member states. A staunch supporter of trans-Atlantic relations, Merz appears determined to maintain close ties with Washington without sidelining his European partners.
Merz’s packed agenda includes Europe’s faltering economy and escalating trade tensions with the US. Together with his Social Democrat coalition partners, he has driven a seismic shift in Germany’s fiscal policy, amending the constitution to allow for massive borrowing aimed at overhauling infrastructure and defense.
This change is welcomed by Karel Lannoo as a necessary step toward reviving Europe’s economy. However, Merz has also sharply criticized US President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which have hit Germany’s export-driven economy hard. He called for the ‘complete abolition of tariffs’ between the EU and US, advocating for zero tariffs for everything and everyone.
Merz sought to highlight his commitment to unity during his visit, emphasizing that Germany does not act unilaterally. His approach is a notable break from traditional protocols, with stops in Warsaw and Paris on the same day as his Brussels debut. Visiting these countries was a message to Europe: it cannot do this alone.
