Merz before EU summit: 'Not one euro is missing from social spending'
In a policy statement to parliament, the chancellor promised a tough EU response to unfair trade, warned of Russia and paid tribute to resigned minister Bas.
Archive image · Photo: Steffen Prößdorf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag on Wednesday that aid to Ukraine was not coming at the expense of welfare, rejecting claims by the far-right AfD and the Left party ahead of an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. "Not one euro is missing from social spending," he said, noting that defence and Ukraine aid are funded through an exemption from the debt brake. He accused both parties of wanting to divide the country, saying they sought chaos for partisan gain.
Merz said the threat from Russia was concrete, adding that Moscow's readiness to escalate was growing. On trade, he promised "a robust European response to growing unfairness in world trade", including subsidies and undervalued currencies. Together with French President Emmanuel Macron he has proposed a new tool allowing the European Commission to respond quickly to targeted attacks on industries and supply chains. "Whoever seeks a trade conflict with us will find that we are now defending ourselves," Merz said.
Merz opened by paying tribute to Labour Minister Baerbel Bas of the Social Democrats, who resigned this week, saying they had not always agreed on policy but her work deserved recognition. Her successor, Alexander Schweitzer, was sworn in before the speech. The summit will also discuss the EU's 2028-2034 budget, where Merz is seeking significant cuts.