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A Sleeping Middle Power: Germany’s EU Policy One Year into the Merz Government
06/05/2026

OpenAI
OpenAI

Better coordination, but a lack of vision: Germany’s EU policy is under pressure. Limited appetite for reform and a growing tendency towards unilateral action are undermining cooperation, while political majorities in Europe are increasingly shifting.

One year after the federal government took office, Germany’s coordination of its EU policy has improved. At the same time, the European Commission is positioning itself as a key player in the development of European defence capabilities. However, the scope for action of the EU institutions remains limited, as there is a lack of political will for fundamental reforms and a clear strategic vision for the future of the EU is largely still missing.

The dynamics of coalition-building at the European level are also changing. Right-wing majorities are emerging more frequently in the European Parliament, whilst the Chancellor has failed to strengthen the Weimar Triangle sustainably. Instead of coordinated action, unilateral initiatives without sufficient involvement of partners are prevailing.

In the latest issue of Berlin Perspectives, Julian Plottka analyses the EU policy of the Merz government and demonstrates why Germany should avoid unilateral action and instead consistently focus on cooperation, engagement and fostering trust between Member States.

Team & authors

About the Berlin Perspectives project: The IEP Policy Brief series Berlin Perspectives presents precise analyses on Germany’s European policy to an English-speaking audience. The authors analyse German European policy positions on current topics and debates to provide policy recommendations based on their findings.

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