Latest news with #Friedrich Merz


Bloomberg
21 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Merz's Domestic Stumbles Show His Power Base Is Under Strain
Chancellor Friedrich Merz spent the first weeks of his tenure bolstering Germany's standing on the global stage, but domestically he's stumbled, casting doubt on his ability to implement economic reforms. The latest blow was the failure to elect three new judges to Germany's top court. Votes in the lower house of parliament — which should have been procedural since the ruling parties agreed on the justices in advance — were pulled at the last minute on Friday after it became clear that Merz's conservatives weren't going to fully support a candidate proposed by the co-ruling Social Democrats.


The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer to discuss ‘global problem' of illegal migration with German Chancellor
The Prime Minister is due to discuss border security with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this week as Sir Keir Starmer called illegal migration 'a global problem'. Writing in the Sunday Express newspaper, Sir Keir said Mr Merz's visit to the UK will include talks on 'what more we can do together to prosecute criminal networks and prevent people smuggling to the UK'. 'The networks of these criminal gangs stretch across countless countries and legal systems, showing no respect for our borders,' he added. 'We'll go further to tackle this shared issue together.' According to the Home Office, 353 people crossed the English Channel by small boat on Friday, just a day after the Prime Minister signed a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at deterring migrants from making the perilous journey. This was down from the 573 people who crossed on Thursday, the first time any such journeys were made in a week. More crossings were witnessed on Saturday, but the full figures are yet to be published. Border force vessels and the RNLI were called out on both Thursday and Friday to reports of multiple boats crossing the channel, the Coastguard said. A statement from the Coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating a response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel on 10 and 11 July. 'UK Border Force and RNLI vessels have been sent as part of this response.' Under the terms of the deal agreed by the Prime Minister and Mr Macron, the UK will be able to send migrants back to France for the first time in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain. The so-called one in, one out deal is due to begin in weeks on a pilot basis, but needs final legal verification from the EU. Downing Street has indicated ministers expect the EU to support the arrangement, amid concerns among some European governments that migrants who have travelled to Britain could end up back on their territory. No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the pilot, but French officials had indicated it could initially be limited to about 50 a week, a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782. Sir Keir wrote: 'This is what serious, practical solutions to global problems look like. 'We will do our duty as a compassionate country, accepting genuine asylum seekers who respect our rules and our way of life. That is fair. 'But people who try to make the crossing illegally will soon find themselves back where they started. That is a real deterrent.' At least 21,000 people have already made the journey since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer to discuss ‘global problem' of illegal migration with German Chancellor
The Prime Minister is due to discuss border security with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this week as Sir Keir Starmer called illegal migration 'a global problem'. Writing in the Sunday Express newspaper, Sir Keir said Mr Merz's visit to the UK will include talks on 'what more we can do together to prosecute criminal networks and prevent people smuggling to the UK'. 'The networks of these criminal gangs stretch across countless countries and legal systems, showing no respect for our borders,' he added. 'We'll go further to tackle this shared issue together.' According to the Home Office, 353 people crossed the English Channel by small boat on Friday, just a day after the Prime Minister signed a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at deterring migrants from making the perilous journey. This was down from the 573 people who crossed on Thursday, the first time any such journeys were made in a week. More crossings were witnessed on Saturday, but the full figures are yet to be published. Border force vessels and the RNLI were called out on both Thursday and Friday to reports of multiple boats crossing the channel, the Coastguard said. A statement from the Coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating a response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel on 10 and 11 July. 'UK Border Force and RNLI vessels have been sent as part of this response.' Under the terms of the deal agreed by the Prime Minister and Mr Macron, the UK will be able to send migrants back to France for the first time in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain. The so-called one in, one out deal is due to begin in weeks on a pilot basis, but needs final legal verification from the EU. Downing Street has indicated ministers expect the EU to support the arrangement, amid concerns among some European governments that migrants who have travelled to Britain could end up back on their territory. No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the pilot, but French officials had indicated it could initially be limited to about 50 a week, a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782. Sir Keir wrote: 'This is what serious, practical solutions to global problems look like. 'We will do our duty as a compassionate country, accepting genuine asylum seekers who respect our rules and our way of life. That is fair. 'But people who try to make the crossing illegally will soon find themselves back where they started. That is a real deterrent.' At least 21,000 people have already made the journey since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.

Emirates 24/7
4 days ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
UAE President sends written message to German Chancellor on bilateral relations
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a written message to Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, regarding bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation between the two friendly nations. The message was delivered by Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy to Germany, during his meeting with Thorsten Frei, Head of the Federal Chancellery and Minister of State for Special Tasks, in Berlin, in the presence of Ahmed Al Attar, UAE Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. The meeting took place at the start of an official visit by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber to Germany. During the meeting, Dr. Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership and their best wishes for continued progress and prosperity to the government and people of Germany. The UAE Special Envoy and the Head of the Federal Chancellery discussed opportunities to enhance bilateral relations and expand areas of cooperation between the UAE and Germany within the framework of their strategic partnership. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber affirmed the UAE leadership's commitment to advancing cooperation with Germany, building on more than five decades of close and constructive relations between the two countries, and exploring new, high-impact opportunities for collaboration across key sectors including the economy, trade, energy, renewable energy, advanced industry and technology, and strategic investments, in support of sustainable development goals in both countries. He also emphasised that UAE–Germany relations are characterised by mutual understanding and productive cooperation, underscoring the shared interest in advancing these ties and expanding their horizons to foster more development-driven partnerships that serve the common interests of both nations, benefit their peoples, and contribute to promoting stability and sustainable growth for all. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Sheikh Mohamed sends letter to German Chancellor Merz
President Sheikh Mohamed on Friday sent a written message to Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, regarding bilateral relations and ways to enhance co-operation. The message was delivered by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy to Germany, in Berlin. At the start of his visit to the German capital, he met Thorsten Frei, head of the Federal Chancellery and Minister of State for Special Tasks, alongside Ahmed Al Attar, UAE ambassador to Germany. During the meeting, the two men explored ways to enhance co-operation across key sectors including the economy, trade, energy, renewable energy, advanced industry and technology, and strategic investments, state news agency Wam reported. Dr Al Jaber also emphasised that UAE–Germany relations are characterised by mutual understanding and productive co-operation. Last month, Dr Al Jaber addressed the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Washington, where he said tension in the Middle East is a reminder that energy is a 'cornerstone of peace, stability and ensuring prosperity'.