Merz Calls for a Major Overhaul of the EU Budget — Spiegel
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a fundamental overhaul of the European Union’s budget to ensure it meets today’s challenges and helps strengthen Europe.
This was reported by Spiegel.
During a speech at the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony, Merz emphasized that Europe needs significantly greater investment in competitiveness and defense.
According to the chancellor, the current structure of the EU budget is outdated, as a significant portion of funds is directed toward redistribution and subsidies, whereas funding should be better utilized to strengthen the EU’s economic and strategic sovereignty.
His statement came amid negotiations on the new seven-year EU budget for 2028–2034, which the European Commission is proposing at €1.76 trillion.
NATO stated that it remains confident in its defense capabilities following the U.S. decision to withdraw some troops from Germany. The Alliance says this is a signal for Europe to invest more in its own security.
As a reminder, the Pentagon has decided to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany. The process is planned to be carried out over the next six to twelve months. This is part of a review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe.
