During the award ceremony of the International Charlemagne Prize to former ECB President Mario Draghi in Aachen, Friedrich Merz (CDU) expressed strong criticism of the current budget plans of the EU Commission. He called for a reorientation of the EU budget to concentrate limited resources more on competitiveness, defense, and economic sovereignty.
Merz criticized the rigid structure of the existing EU budget, which has remained virtually unchanged for decades. He stated that it is “almost centrally planned” to determine in advance who receives which funds for seven years. Over two-thirds of the money goes into redistribution and subsidies, which is no longer appropriate given the changed geopolitical situation.
He advocated for a fundamental modernization of the EU budget and called for a streamlined structure with a stronger focus on European priorities. Additionally, Merz firmly rejected new European debts: “Germany cannot support this path for constitutional reasons,” he said.
The background to these demands is the ongoing preparations for the next multiannual financial framework of the European Union. According to a proposal from the EU Commission, the budget for the period starting in 2028 is set to increase significantly, amounting to around 1.76 trillion euros when adjusted for inflation.
Merz also praised Mario Draghi for his role in the Euro crisis and emphasized that Draghi’s commitment in 2012 to do everything necessary to preserve the euro had shown courage. The euro is now unchallenged, Merz stated. He also described Greece’s reform course as tough but correct.
