Friedrich Merz, the leader of the German opposition party, has called for a united stance from the European Union in dealing with US President Donald Trump. Merz, who is known for his conservative views, believes that a strong and unified EU response is necessary to counteract Trump’s unpredictable and often controversial policies.
In a recent speech, Merz criticized Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on European goods and withdraw from international agreements, such as the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal. He argued that these actions have undermined the EU’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and cooperation on the global stage.
Merz’s call for a united EU stance on Trump comes at a time of increasing tensions between the US and Europe, particularly on issues such as trade, defense spending, and climate change. He believes that by presenting a united front, the EU can better protect its interests and values in the face of Trump’s disruptive policies.
As Germany prepares for its upcoming federal elections, Merz’s stance on Trump is likely to be a key issue in the campaign. While some may criticize his approach as too confrontational, others see it as a necessary response to the challenges posed by the current US administration.
Overall, Merz’s call for a united EU stance on Trump highlights the growing importance of European unity in the face of external threats and challenges. Only time will tell if the EU will heed his advice and present a united front in dealing with the unpredictable actions of the Trump administration.
Germany’s conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, frontrunner in polls to become the next chancellor, on Tuesday urged a united European stance in talks with US President Donald Trump.
Merz also said that, should he win the snap general election on February 23, he would seek strong ties with Germany’s traditional core EU partner France but also with Poland and Italy, led by far-right premier Giorgia Meloni.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos a day after Trump’s inauguration, Merz recalled congratulating him in a handwritten letter and said “we should be ready to meet as soon as possible”.
But he cautioned that “I would not like to see any European leader go to (Washington) DC without having before tried to coordinate what we are telling them from our European perspective”.
With questions on trade, security and other issues looming, he cautioned against EU member countries “popping up there and speaking different languages, everybody only speaking on his own behalf”.
Instead, Merz argued the need “to negotiate with the American side from a position of strength”.
“Let’s work with him and let’s figure out where we are having approaches in common,” he said, mentioning relations with China as an example.
– ‘Position of strength’ –
Merz is enjoying a strong poll lead over centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who addressed the Davos forum earlier — although, if he wins, Merz may yet need Scholz’s SPD as a coalition ally.
The conservative CDU leader, a strong supporter of the EU and transatlantic ties, has accused Scholz of neglecting international relations.
Merz also said Germany needed to get Poland “at the table as fast as possible” and praised Meloni of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, who has positioned herself as the closest mainstream European leader to Trump.
“I don’t understand the reservations towards her,” Merz said. “I think she is very pro-European, she is very clear in her position towards Ukraine and Russia.”
“Why don’t we talk with her more often than we did in the past?” he added.
Outlining other policy positions, Merz said he would seek to rebuild the German economy by helping companies, lowering energy prices, studying a return to nuclear power, and getting the unemployed off welfare benefits and back into the labour market.
A top priority would be reducing the “big problem” of irregular immigration, he said, adding that this would also help tackle the “challenges coming from the right-wing populists” of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), with whom he vowed to never cooperate.
On the Ukraine war, he pledged strong continued support for Kyiv, stressing that the war “will not come to an end from a position of weakness. It will only come to an end from a position of strength.”
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In a recent statement, German opposition leader Friedrich Merz called for a united stance from the European Union in response to President Donald Trump’s policies and actions. Merz emphasized the importance of solidarity among EU member states in dealing with the challenges posed by the Trump administration.
Merz criticized Trump’s “America First” approach and expressed concern over the impact it could have on transatlantic relations. He urged EU leaders to work together to assert their own interests and values in the face of increasing uncertainty and unpredictability from the United States.
The opposition leader’s remarks come at a time of growing tension between the EU and the Trump administration, particularly on issues such as trade, climate change, and security. Merz’s call for a united EU stance reflects a broader push for European countries to assert their sovereignty and independence in the face of external pressures.
As the EU grapples with the challenges of a changing global landscape, Merz’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and solidarity in defending the interests of European citizens. It remains to be seen how EU leaders will respond to Trump’s policies and whether they will heed Merz’s call for a united front.
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German opposition leader, Merz, EU, Trump, united stance, Billings News
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