Germany’s chancellor has called for a more independent Europe and reforms to the European Union single market which he called a “bureaucratic monster.” Speaking on Monday, November 17th, Friedrich Merz said Europe should rely less on the U.S., China, and Russia.
Merz made the remarks ahead of a Berlin summit with French president Emmanuel Macron, where they plan to push for greater digital sovereignty and less dependence on U.S. tech giants. He added that the single market now restricts freedom for businesses instead of supporting it.
EU leaders will discuss cutting bureaucracy and boosting industrial competitiveness in a special summit in February next year, but it remains to be seen whether such measures can turn Europe’s faltering economy around.