“Check against delivery”

Welcome, Chancellor, dear Friedrich,

it is great that you have come to Brussels early, and on Europe Day. That speaks volumes.

We had an excellent exchange and agreed on urgency. Competitiveness is a priority for this Commission. Its crucial to close the innovation gap, which requires adequate funding and a supportive environment. Reliable and affordable energy is also essential, requiring investment in networks and storage. We need to make progress by summer, and simplification is key to our competitiveness.

Germany is a global powerhouse with close ties to European and foreign markets. Europe is more attractive than ever, and countries worldwide want to collaborate. We have 76 trade agreements and welcome the US. We are working on a fair solution to the US tariffs. If negotiations fail, we will respond.

We discussed Ukraine and the importance of the proposed ceasefire. We want to bring Ukraine into a position of strength and emphasized that we want a just and lasting peace. Additional defense spending in Europe is needed, and I welcome Friedrichs initiative to increase German defense spending.

We also discussed migration, a common European challenge that requires a joint solution. It is important to implement the Migration and Asylum Pact. We are investing an additional EUR 3 billion, and the external dimension of our policy is working. Member States need to return more migrants.

Finally, a message that would please Robert Schuman: the Eurobarometer shows that support for the EU among citizens is at its highest level ever. This is a responsibility, and we must work together to tackle the big challenges.

Dear Friedrich, the fact that you chose Europe Day is an important signal. European politics is a top priority for you. I wish you a successful start and look forward to excellent cooperation.