In a letter to EU leaders, German Friedrich Merz proposes granting Ukraine the new status of associate membership. The German chancellor hopes this will inject new momentum into the enlargement process and the discussion regarding Ukraine’s accession.
By Stephan Israel
In his laudatory speech for Mario Draghi at the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony, Friedrich Merz expressed fundamental criticism of the Commission’s proposal for the MFF. Negotiations on the MFF for 2028–2034 will begin shortly.
By Markus Grabitz
For business leaders, Nairobi is hard to ignore this week: Macron is hosting a major summit alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, with many African presidents also in attendance. However, Macron’s push into Anglophone Africa – focused on artificial intelligence, energy and space – will be a French solo effort rather than the planned trio with Germany and India.
By Arne Schütte and Lucia Weiß
One year on, business leaders, observers and the opposition are assessing the Merz administration’s China policy. Despite numerous initiatives, there remains a wide gap between aspirations and reality.
By Manuel Liu
While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlights the economic potential of the green tech sector on the global stage, companies in Germany are warning of growing uncertainty over the country’s climate policy. They say this uncertainty is holding back investment and slowing the rollout of new technologies.
By Nico Beckert
At the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz underscored the link between climate action and economic growth. At the same time, he said the government must retain public support for climate policy. Senior business representatives also outlined their expectations for the German government.
By Lukas Knigge, Nico Beckert and David Goeßmann
On Wednesday, the Defense Committee is scheduled to be briefed on the current status of FCAS. By the end of the week, Macron and Merz could announce a decision on the program’s future.
By Gabriel Bub
According to Handelsblatt, mediation efforts over the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project have failed. The paper reports that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to make a decision on the project’s future on Tuesday.
By Wilhelmine Stenglin
Friedrich Merz has praised China’s work ethic. But the long hours worked by Chinese employees have nothing to do with patriotism. In reality, millions of them are trapped in precarious jobs.
By Marcel Grzanna
A quarter-century after the last visit by a Syrian president to Berlin, the country’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is set to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Monday. His treatment of minorities, in particular, has drawn criticism.
By Markus Bickel and Wilhelmine Stenglin
