Friedrich Merz

Europe News

Costa seeks to reassure Merz after EU budget ultimatum

António Costa has replied to Friedrich Merz's controversial letter linking a deal on the EU budget to a deal on Ukraine aid. Four countries have already pushed back against the German chancellor's ultimatum.

10 November 2026

Europe Today

Merz’s budget gamble: no Ukraine funding, no EU budget

Good morning. I’m Luca Bertuzzi, holding the pen for today’s newsletter. In this edition: Merz ties the EU budget to unanimous financial support for Ukraine, Europe sends a delegation to Abu Dhabi but stays outside the trilateral talks, and the Black Sea strategy struggles to stay afloat.

10 November 2026

Europe News

No deal on Ukraine aid? Then no deal on EU budget, Merz says

The stakes for the EU budget have risen sharply as the German chancellor ties the deal to approving an additional €45 billion for Kyiv. "Supporting Ukraine is a matter of our indivisible European security," Merz said in a letter to Council President Antonio Costa.

9 November 2026

Europe News

Germany and Japan strengthen economic ties as global tensions rise

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi agreed in Tokyo on Wednesday to deepen cooperation on economic security and high tech. It is Merz's first visit to Japan since taking office in May 2025.

28 October 2026

Business

Investment summit: German government strikes AI deal with Nvidia

At the "Invest in Germany" summit in Berlin, the federal government, despite early negative headlines, secured a partnership with AI firm Nvidia and new investment from Amazon.

20 October 2026

Europe News

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warns Germany is falling behind in AI race

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Huang are set to unveil a joint AI pact intended to speed up the integration of AI products across German industry.

19 October 2026

Europe News

Montenegro makes concessions as Croatia holds key to its EU future

Montenegro has moved to address Croatia’s wartime grievances as it seeks to keep its EU accession bid on track for 2028, amid growing pressure from Germany for a swift resolution.

19 October 2026

Europe News

EU’s China trade breakthrough risks taking pressure off Beijing

The EU's new trade deal with China has eased fears of an escalating trade war, but it could also weaken the political momentum behind Brussels' plans to take a tougher stance against Beijing's economic practices.

12 October 2026

Europe News

UK PM Andy Burnham meets with Merz in Berlin in first official visit

Burnham's meeting with Merz comes amid increasing warnings of hybrid threats in Europe and follows a drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport in August - which Berlin has accused Russia of orchestrating.

8 October 2026

Europe News

Merz makes surprise Kyiv visit as Germany pledges more aid to Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday. Accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and representatives of German defence and energy companies, he aims to pledge further military and financial support for Ukraine.

4 October 2026

Europe News

Pressure grows on Germany's Merz after bruising election defeats

The string of election debacles comes as Merz has struggled to push through promised economic and social welfare reforms with his coalition partners in the SPD.

21 September 2026

Europe Today

People 'lost their trust' in Merz's government, S&D MEP says

German Social Democrat MEP Sabrina Repp says the German governing coalition, which includes her party and Friedrich Merz’s CDU, is now under “lots of pressure” following the latest regional election results.

21 September 2026

Europe Today

Merz under pressure again, Ukraine's biggest strike hits Moscow

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure again after his CDU party suffered a disastrous result in Sunday's German state elections, as Ukraine launched its biggest-ever drone strike on Moscow. Today on Europe Today we also cover rising Iran-US tensions and Meloni's burqa ban plan.

21 September 2026

Europe News

Left triumphs in Berlin as AfD surges in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Germany’s final state elections of the year have delivered a sharp political shake-up. The Left has won Berlin, while the AfD has come out on top in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with the CDU suffering heavy losses in both elections.

21 September 2026

Europe News

Merz’s party suffering heavy losses in 2 German state, exit polls

Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union is projected to fall to 5.5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. That would be its worst result there since World War II. The CDU is projected to come in second with 20%, behind the Left party at 24.5%, according to the exit poll by public broadcaster ARD

20 September 2026

Europe Today

CDU politician: ‘Not right’ to discuss Merz's future after state vote

CDU politician and German MP Günter Krings calls the Saxony-Anhalt election results “devastating”, saying the situation is “even worse than expected” after the far-right AfD won 43.8% of the vote.

10 September 2026