Germany's newest chancellor meets European Parliament President

Germany’s newly elected chancellor, Friedrich Merz, visited Brussels on Europe Day for a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, where they spoke about a number of issues concerning the EU's challenges.

Their discussions focused on key issues including economic competitiveness, international trade partnerships, and the EU’s ongoing support for Ukraine. The pair agreed that the EU must not cease its support for Ukraine.

Both leaders emphasised the importance of maintaining strong business links with global trading partners.

On migration, Metsola said that the EU needs a joint approach that is both fair and firm. “The solution must be a European one,” she said. "We need a cohesive and comprehensive approach that upholds our values and responsibilities while also being tough towards those who have no right to enter and stay. The next steps are on finding a better way forward on returns.”

Commenting on the visit, Metsola said it demonstrated Germany’s ongoing commitment to the EU. Merz, for his part, thanked Metsola for the welcome and expressed interest in working closely together.