German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that Germany and Europe cannot simply watch as the world reorders itself and be «the pawns» of great powers, but must be actors defending their interests and values, both in defense and economic matters.
«The Government, and I personally, are firmly resolved that Germany will not become a victim or an object of these processes. Germany not only plays a role as the federal government, but also as a co-creator of a new European order, and that is something we owe to ourselves and to Europe,» he stated in a government declaration.
The Chancellor pointed out that, as the largest, most populous, and economically strongest country in the European Union, the coalition government has established three priorities «for Germany to regain its strength».
«We have significantly strengthened our defense capability by increasing the military budget, amending the Constitution, introducing important laws, and accelerating the acquisition and recruitment for the Armed Forces,» he recalled.
«Our logic is simple: we must be strong enough to credibly deter potential aggressors,» he explained.
Furthermore, he noted, the German executive has initiated structural reforms and given a boost to investment, as well as reducing taxes for society, introducing an industrial electricity price, and decreasing bureaucracy.
«These measures aim to make the German economy competitive again and capable of facing global challenges, including those related to supply chains and strategic resources,» Merz pointed out.
On migration policy, Germany has adjusted its refugee policy from day one by introducing border controls and reducing asylum applications «by more than 50% compared to the previous year, an achievement that no other EU country has attained,» he assured.
Moreover, he emphasized, his coalition government, formed by conservatives and social democrats, is working on «profound reforms in social security systems» to «prepare Germany for the future».
«We will do this together (...) with the aim of solving our country's problems with our own strength and capacity,» he stressed.
Finally, he highlighted that «the security of Europe is inseparably linked to the security of Ukraine».
«Germany is committed to ensuring that Ukraine can effectively defend itself in the future with its own strong forces and security guarantees from its partners,» he indicated.
In the pillar of the economy and global competition, Merz noted that Germany and Europe must adapt to geo-economic changes, secure access to critical raw materials, strengthen supply chains, and maintain competitiveness against external restrictions, such as U.S. tariffs.
«We want and must continue to be an actor that decisively and forcefully defends its interests and values,» he stated in the German lower house.
Merz was convinced that this can be achieved with effort if both Germany and Europe accept all current challenges, including the distancing from the U.S. or Chinese limitations on the export of semiconductors and strategic resources.
Trade agreements with Mercosur and the completion of the European single market are priorities to strengthen Europe's capacity for action, he emphasized.
