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In the heart of Europe, Europe at the heart? European policy implications of the German federal election 2025
26/02/2025

IEP
IEP

The CDU, which emerged from the elections as the strongest force, is committed to European cooperation. Our trilateral debate with experts from the partner countries France and Poland shows how the major European policy challenges can be addressed.

Germany has voted: The CDU/CSU has won the 2025 federal election and Friedrich Merz is expected to become Chancellor - provided that the upcoming coalition negotiations with the SPD are successful. During the election campaign, Merz repeatedly declared his support for European cooperation. Despite this commitment, Merz's European policy remains ambiguous in terms of content and unclear in detail.

The election campaign was dominated by issues that fundamentally affect or even require European cooperation: above all migration, economic competitiveness, defence policy and positioning in a rapidly changing global order. Germany's key European partners Poland and France also agree on the need for action in these areas. While Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk should agree above all on strengthening European competitiveness and limiting irregular migration, the establishment of a common European defence structure could give new impetus to the Franco-German alliance. Hopes for strengthening the Weimar Triangle are therefore high. The current trend towards a more conservative leadership in the European Union - reinforced by the election victory of the CDU/CSU election victory - could strengthen cooperation.

However, many substantive details remain unresolved, the organisation of which will also largely depend on the composition of the new cabinet. How will a more restrictive migration policy affect the Schengen area? How can the EU's multi-annual financial framework be organised in order to adequately address the new economic and security policy priorities? What additional EU financial instruments may be needed for this?

These questions and other euro policy implications of the 2025 Bundestag elections were discussed in the digital lunchtime discussion ‘In the heart of Europe, Europe at the heart?’ Prof Dr Eva Heidbreder (University of Magdeburg), Dr Maria Skóra (Affiliate Research Fellow, IEP) and Sophie Pornschlegel (Europe Jacques Delors). Prof Dr Funda Tekin, Director of the IEP, chaired the discussion.

Team & authors

Prof Dr Funda Tekin
Director
Person
Team
Dr Tobias Hofelich
Research Advisor
Person
Team
Dr Johanna Hase
Research Advisor
Person
Team
Klara Sofia Stecker
Student Assistant
Person
Team

About the Europe talks project: The IEP's Europe Talks bring together citizens, decision-makers, academics and civil society to discuss challenges and perspectives on European integration. In this way, they promote the debate on European policy in Germany.

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Image copyright: IEP