German Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted that it has become difficult to develop policy towards Ukraine in the European Union, an example of which is the slow adoption of the latest, 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions.
“In a number of cases, there is fair criticism of the European Union“, the German government's press service quoted him as saying. “It has simply become subject to too many regulations, not to mention too bureaucratic“, Merz believes. He stressed that during the coronavirus pandemic, the European Union showed itself “from its best side“.
“But now we see how difficult it is for the European Union to develop, for example, policy towards Ukraine“, the Chancellor noted.
“The processes are very slow and therefore we must say, also self-critically, that we in the EU must become better, we must concentrate on the truly serious tasks“, the Chancellor said.
Merz said that the ruling coalition he leads is on the right track despite the initial problems and the visible tension among the parties participating in it, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Merz said that “from time to time there are differences“, as in any government, referring to his coalition, made up of the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the German Social Democratic Party. He cited the appointment of judges to the country's highest court and tax policy as examples, but dismissed suggestions that there was anything irreparable about his 10-week-old government.
“The CDU, CSU and SPD will have a completely normal working relationship,” Merz, leader of the Christian Democrats, assured during his half-hour conference today.
In response to questions about the stability of the coalition, the chancellor pointed to the government's solid majority in the Bundestag. But he also acknowledged the political cracks exposed by his own disputed election as chancellor in May and the recent failure of a vote on judicial appointments due to infighting within the coalition. However, the chancellor said the coalition had launched more initiatives in its first 10 weeks than most governments manage to do at the start of their term.
Merz also highlighted progress on economic policy.
“We have initiated a turnaround“, he said, adding that Germany was now on a more positive economic path. Overcoming two years of stagnation remains the government's top priority, and Merz cited improving business sentiment, higher forecasts from economic institutes and stronger investor interest as signs of progress.