‘High expectations', EU looks to Merz for boost in tough times
Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be spelling out his priorities in a succession of press conferences today, with EU chiefs. (AFP pic)
BRUSSELS : Germany's Friedrich Merz makes his maiden trip to Brussels today with expectations riding high that the changing of the guard in Berlin can bring fresh momentum to Europe at a time of dizzying global challenges.
After back-to-back trips to Paris and Warsaw signalling his intent to cement ties with both neighbours, Merz's swift visit to the EU capital shows his resolve to restore Germany's role in Europe following months of political paralysis.
'It was high time,' summed up one EU diplomat.
'We are waiting for, and we need, a strong Germany, one that's able to tackle the tough work ahead,' the diplomat said.
Germany's EU comeback is not expected to be all plain sailing.
Elected on a pledge to clamp down on migration, one of the conservative chancellor's first steps in office was a unilateral move to reject most asylum seekers at Germany's borders, to the notable displeasure of Poland.
However, it is no secret many in Brussels will be glad to see the back of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, after what was often seen as an underwhelming tenure at the helm of Europe's largest economy, from 2021 to 2025.
'Germany under the leadership of Olaf Scholz had a pretty negative reputation,' said Guntram Wolff, of the Bruegel think tank.
'Scholz would always call Washington first,' he said. 'I think there is hope that Friedrich Merz will be more turned towards the EU,' he added.
'We have very high expectations of the German government,' confirmed Finland's foreign minister, Elina Valtonen.
A 'very European' leader
In an interview upon taking office this week, the chancellor – who speaks fondly of his youthful years as an EU lawmaker from 1989 to 1994 – promised to be a 'very European' leader.
Merz will be spelling out his priorities in a succession of press conferences today, with EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
However, he has already made them clear: supporting new trade partnerships, including with the US, striking a balance between EU climate action and support for industry, curbing migration, and most crucially, bolstering Europe's defence capability.
Brussels is looking to Germany to play a key role in driving the continent's rearmament – faced with US disengagement and war on its doorstep in Ukraine.
The chancellor's visit will come as Vladimir Putin gathers a cohort of allied leaders for a World War II victory parade in Moscow – underscoring the growing threat posed by Russia on Europe's eastern rim.
'Same language'
Merz and his Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners have already affected a sea change in fiscally conservative Germany, changing the constitution to enable mass borrowing to upgrade the country's defence and infrastructure.
In that spirit, he has given strong backing to steps by Brussels to free up hundreds of billions in additional defence spending by member states, including by relaxing the bloc's fiscal rules.
Merz's most closely watched meeting will be with commission chief von der Leyen – a fellow German conservative who has described the incoming chancellor as a 'friend'.
'They speak the same language,' summed up Wolff. 'They come from the same party, they have ideas in common, a shared background, they grew up in a period of European integration.'
The two are expected to collaborate closely on the critical matter of trade – where Germany's export-driven economy is especially vulnerable to President Donald Trump's tariffs campaign.
Yet that does not rule out the scope for disagreements – particularly on immigration, where von der Leyen advocates EU-wide action and Merz has so far taken a go-it-alone national approach.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
In surprise victory, UK's Labour wins Scottish by-election after bitter contest
Union and Scotland flags fly over buildings in central Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, March 30, 2021. Picture taken March 30, 2021. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party won a surprise victory in a fiercely fought by-election for the Scottish parliament on Friday after one of the most bitter election campaigns in the country's recent history. In an election when race became a major issue, Labour won the seat from the Scottish National Party in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse following the death of a former government minister. The result provides some relief for Starmer, whose party has suffered a steep fall in support since it won a landslide in a British general election last year after it raised taxes, cut welfare benefits and got into a row over the use of donations. Voters rallied around Labour in the closely watched contest after Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, repeatedly referred to the ethnicity of the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who is of Pakistani heritage, drawing criticism from the other parties. The Labour candidate Davy Russell won 8,559 votes in the election for the Scottish parliament, which has devolved powers over issues like health and education. The SNP won 7,957 votes, and Reform finished third with 7,088 votes. The betting odds had predicted a comfortable victory for the SNP with Labour pushed into third place behind Reform. Russell told his supporters that his victory had "sent a message to Farage and his mob, the poison of Reform isn't us, it isn't Scotland and we don't want your division here". But a recent surge in support for Reform suggests the party is making inroads in Scotland as well as in England, a year before the Scottish parliament elections are held next year. The support for Reform in Scotland is particularly surprising because the party's brand of low tax, anti-immigration, anti-EU politics, has often been more associated with English nationalism. Farage visited Scotland on Monday, days after a row over an online video put out by his party that falsely claimed Sarwar had said he would "prioritise" the Pakistani community. Labour branded the advert "blatantly racist" and the SNP leader John Swinney urged voters to reject Reform's "gutter politics". Farage responded by accusing Sarwar of introducing sectarianism into Scottish politics. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Elizabeth Piper and Michael Perry)
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
TotalEnergies on trial: Greenwashing claims could set legal precedent in France
PARIS, June 6 — Environmental groups took TotalEnergies to court yesterday in a landmark Paris trial, accusing the French oil and gas giant of misleading consumers with ads that overstate its climate commitments and fossil fuel transition. It is the first such case in France targeting a major energy company and could set a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising, which is starting to face tighter regulations in the European Union. The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing TotalEnergies of 'misleading commercial practices' for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. The plaintiffs took that legal route as 'greenwashing', or the act of claiming to be more environmentally responsible than in reality, is not specifically covered under French law. Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of 'carbon neutrality by 2050' and touted gas as 'the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions'. At the time, the company had changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in wind turbines and solar panels for electricity production. The plaintiffs allege that TotalEnergies made around 40 'false advertisements' in their lawsuit. 'For the average consumer, it is impossible to understand that TotalEnergies is actually expanding fossil fuel production,' said Clementine Baldon, a lawyer for the NGOs. The company's strategy 'will not help the energy transition', Baldon told the court. 'It delays it, even prevents it, and it contributes to putting the objectives of the Paris accord at risk,' she added, referring to the international agreement aimed at curbing climate change. TotalEnergies maintains it has not engaged in misleading commercial practices. 'Greenwashing would be to promise that the petrol sold in service stations is carbon neutral,' said the company's lawyer, Francoise Labrousse. TotalEnergies had 'never said its products are good for the climate', she added. TotalEnergies also insisted that the messages are part of its institutional communications regulated by financial authorities and not consumer law. It also argued the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy, and that no consumer organisation is party to the case. The NGOs want the Paris court to rule on the legality of ads presenting natural gas as essential to the energy transition. Climate experts say methane leaks from the gas industry have a powerful warming effect on the atmosphere. But TotalEnergies noted Greenpeace Belgium had previously considered natural gas useful for the energy transition and noted the group still uses fossil fuels in its boats. Correcting ads Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are. In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. In Spain, utility Iberdrola failed to secure a conviction against Spanish oil and gas company Repsol over similar allegations of 'false' environmental claims. A greenwashing case against Australian oil and gas producer Santos, challenging its claim to be a 'clean fuels' company, has been ongoing since 2021. Other fossil fuel companies, under pressure from advertising regulators or legal complains, have had to scrap or correct ad campaigns. Shell, for example, received a warning in the UK and had to stop promoting 'carbon-neutral' gasoline in several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. New European laws now ban vague, generic environmental claims such as 'green' or '100 per cent natural' product, and aim to require brands to more strictly substantiate environmental claims on labels and in advertising. TotalEnergies has said it plans to show that its messages 'about its name change, strategy and role in the energy transition are reliable and based on objective, verifiable data'. At the end of the hearing, the judge said a ruling would be given on October 23. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
‘We can achieve great things at Real Madrid' says Alonso
Xabi Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028. (EPA Images pic) MADRID : Xabi Alonso promised a new era for Real Madrid after being unveiled as manager on Monday, confident he can achieve important things as he builds on the legacy left behind by his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso was appointed manager on Sunday, returning to the Santiago Bernabeu where he spent six seasons as a player and won several trophies. The 43-year-old had been in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, who he guided to a double last season as they won the German Cup and lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game. 'Without a doubt, this is a very special day for me. A day that I will have marked in my calendar for life. I am very happy to be here, in what I feel is my home,' said Alonso, who will begin his tenure on June 1 ahead of the Club World Cup. 'The bond with Madrid has never ceased to exist and, since I entered Valdebebas (training centre) an hour and a half ago, that feeling has been reborn. I have the feeling that this is the beginning of a new era. 'We have a great team, we have fantastic players and a very good potential. That gives me reason to come here with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We have the conviction that we can achieve important things, worthy of Real Madrid and these European Cups.' New-look real? Asked what style of play he would implement at Real, Alonso told reporters: 'It's a good question and I like it because today's football asks you to be flexible and dynamic. It asks you to know how to move the pieces around. 'I have an idea of how we want to play, but the system can change. I want the team to transmit emotion, energy, to play ambitiously and to connect with the people. 'The symbiosis we are looking for is fundamental for the stage to start well. I like to improve everyone's potential to fit the pieces together.' Lofty standards Alonso takes charge of a Real side who had a sub-par season by their own lofty standards, finishing second in LaLiga behind Barcelona, who also beat them in the Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey finals. They were knocked out of the Champions League as holders in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. A key issue Real faced this season was getting the best out of attackers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, with both preferring to play on the left wing. 'It's fortunate that we have players of that level. Not just Kylian or Vinicius, but many others,' Alonso said. 'They are differential, they make the difference and we have to get everything out of them. I have ideas. There is still time until we meet with them. But, for me, it's very important to communicate what we want. They are high-level players and that's my task.' Alonso has signed a three-year contract until June 2028 and replaces Ancelotti, who took charge of his last game on Saturday. In his address at the presentation, the Spaniard paid tribute to his former coach. 'Before I start talking about the new era, I don't want to forget to talk about the era that has just ended,' Alonso said. 'Carlo was my coach, a great person and a huge influence. Without his mastery, I probably wouldn't be here. I take over and carry on his legacy with great honour and pride. 'I hope to live up to expectations and be able to take the club to all the places we all believe we can,' he said. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
