Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has pledged to restore the country's leadership role in Europe. This article by Acting Co-Director Thu Nguyen argues that while his emphasis on speed, flexible coalitions, and decisive action responds to today's geopolitical challenges, his approach risks weakening the EU institutions and decision-making processes on which effective European leadership ultimately depends.
This article was first published on 29 June 2026 in Internationale Politik. Read here.
Photo: CC Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash